From April 29, Emiratis and GCC citizens will be able to enter the UAE using an identity card rather than a passport.

National Emergency Crisis and Disasters Management Authority (NCEMA) and Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs, and Port Security (Federal Authority for ID, Citizenship, Customs, and Port Security) have announced the new update as part of the UAE's recent measures aimed at streamlining travel between GCC states.

A similar decision was made by Saudi Arabia on Thursday. Saudi Arabia announced that its citizens and citizens of other GCC states will be able to travel to and from Saudi Arabia only using their government-issued IDs.

The General Directorate of Passports (Jawazat) announced it had lifted the ban on the use of IDs as valid documents for travel to and from Saudi Arabia for Saudi citizens and GCC citizens.

According to Jawazat, citizens must ensure they meet all entry requirements before travelling into a GCC state, emphasizing that a family registry card is not accepted as proof of travel to or from GCC states.