UID Number (Unified Identity Number)

The UID is the unified identity number the UAE immigration system assigns to every foreign national on their first entry or first visa issuance, and it permanently anchors that person's immigration file across all emirates and all subsequent visas. Unlike visa numbers, which change with each permit, the UID stays constant, linking entry records, residence history, sponsors, fines, and any bans or flags. It appears on residence visas and can be retrieved through ICP and GDRFA channels when missing. Practically, the UID is requested constantly: Emirates ID applications, status changes, fine settlements, golden visa applications, and ban or blacklist enquiries all key off it. The classic problem is duplicate UIDs — created when a person entered on different passports or with inconsistent name spellings — which jams visa processing until the records are merged through an official UID-merge request, a routine but essential fix in immigration practice.