What is the UID number?

The Unified Identity Number (UID) number is a 9-15 digit unique number which is automatically assigned to any person who comes to the UAE either as a tourist or resident.

The number serves as an identification tool in order to differentiate any person who has ever entered the UAE.

UID numbers are issued by The General Directory of Residency and Foreign Affairs (GDRFA). The  number is issued once. Even if you renew your visa, or change status from tourist into resident, the UID remains the same. This means that it's a permanent unified number.

For individuals planning business setup in Dubai, understanding UID numbers is essential, as they are often required for visa processing and corporate registrations.

UID and Emirates ID

UID is not the same as Emirates ID, and it is important to distinguish between them. The Emirates ID is a card that functions as an identification document. It is required to access nearly any services in the UAE—renting property (signing and registering your tenancy agreement with Ejari), purchasing a local SIM card, connecting utilities and the internet, opening a bank account, and much more.

The Emirates ID contains the UID.

UID number in residence UAE visa

There are many numbers and codes in the resident visa document that expats may not have given much thought to. The Unified Identity Number (UID) number is one of them. Let’s have a closer look at it. For those involved in business setup in UAE, understanding the UID number is essential, as it plays a key role in visa applications and residency processes.

The UID is located right above the file number in your visa. The combination of numbers is not random—each of them carries a specific meaning. The first three digits of the UID are the code of the emirate that issued the visa, for example, 101 for Abu Dhabi and 201 for Dubai. Next comes the year the visa was issued. The last 7 to 9 digits are your resident visa number. In passport expats previously had the residence visa stamped, but now they only receive electronic visas.

Elena O.

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