If your Emirates ID is lost or stolen, you can replace it through the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security — known as ICP — either online, through the ICP app, or at a customer happiness centre. The replacement carries the same ID number and the same expiry date as the card you lost, so you are not starting again. What slows people down is rarely the application itself; it is reporting late, using the wrong service channel, or arriving without the right supporting document.
Report It First, Then Apply
For a stolen card, or one lost in circumstances that worry you, report the loss to the police first and keep the report — you may be asked for it, and it protects you if the card is misused. Then apply for a replacement as soon as you can, because your Emirates ID is the key to banking, healthcare, government services and even some building access in the UAE. While you wait, the digital version of your ID in the UAE PASS or ICP app is accepted by most government departments and many private companies, which means daily life does not have to stop.
How to Apply, Step by Step
- Open the ICP website or app and choose the service for replacing a lost or damaged identity card.
- Log in with UAE PASS and confirm your personal details and photograph on file.
- Pay the replacement fees by card and save the payment receipt.
- Note the application number so you can track progress online.
- Choose delivery by courier to your address or collection, as offered during the application.
- Activate and check the digital copy in the app while the physical card is produced.
Costs and Timing to Expect
As a guide, replacing a lost card typically costs around AED 300 in issuance fees, plus a service or urgent-processing charge that can bring the total to roughly AED 370 to AED 470 depending on the channel you use. Standard delivery usually takes a few working days after approval, while urgent services at a customer happiness centre can be faster. These figures are estimates only — fee schedules are updated from time to time, so check the ICP portal at the moment you apply for the current amounts. One reassurance: because the replacement keeps your original expiry date, you do not gain or lose validity by replacing early.
Mistakes That Cause Delays
- Applying for a brand-new ID instead of a replacement, which creates a conflicting application.
- Entering an address or mobile number you no longer use, so courier delivery fails.
- Not reporting a stolen card, then facing questions if it surfaces in misuse.
- Waiting weeks to apply, then discovering you need the card for a tenancy renewal or bank transaction.
- Using unofficial typing or agent websites that charge extra and submit errors on your behalf.
A damaged card follows almost the same process, except you should surrender the old card when asked. If your details have changed — for example, a new passport after marriage — tell ICP during the replacement, because the card should match your current passport exactly. If the application is rejected, the reason is usually a photograph, passport mismatch or unpaid fee, and the rejection message tells you which one; fix that specific point rather than submitting a second application.
Protect the Card You Still Have Digitally
While the physical card is missing, take five minutes to secure everything connected to it. Check the ICP app shows the correct mobile number, update UAE PASS if you changed phones recently, and tell your bank that the card is lost so they can note the file — most banks will not block your account, but the note helps if anything unusual appears. If your building, gym or employer holds a copy of the card, let them know a replacement is coming with the same number, so access systems keep working. Keep the replacement application receipt on your phone until the new card arrives; together with the digital ID, it answers almost every ‘where is your Emirates ID?’ question you will meet in the meantime. Once the new card lands, check the chip at the first opportunity — for example at a bank or government kiosk — rather than discovering a fault months later.
FAQ
Will my ID number change with a replacement card?
No. Your Emirates ID number is yours for life in the UAE system, and the replacement keeps the same number and expiry date as the lost card.
Can I travel while waiting for the replacement?
Residents are generally advised to carry the physical or digital ID when travelling. Check with your airline and the ICP guidance before a trip, especially for GCC travel where the card is used.
What if I find the old card after getting a new one?
Use the replacement and destroy or surrender the found card as advised by ICP, since only one card should be in circulation for your file.
A lost card is an inconvenience, not a crisis, if you report and replace it promptly. Find more everyday guides at DXB Talk in the How-To section.
