Gulfnews.com reports that a single application form for United Arab Emirates residence visas, labor cards and identification cards will be available later this year. Instead of providing the same biographical data (e.g., name, nationality, marital status) on three separate applications, petitioners will complete one application and the information supplied will be used to process all three official documents. Approved applicants will then be issued an all-purpose identification card.

During the fourth quarter of 2010, residence visa information will be transferred to the identification card, and the transfer of labor card information will follow next. Upon complete incorporation, individuals will be able to present identification cards to enter the UAE and to verify their work authorization, thereby supplanting separate visa stamps and labor cards.