Renew Visa, Re-register SIM, Too

18 Jan 2013

Just when you thought the hullabaloo and rush over SIM registrations had died down, here comes another surprise. You must re-register your SIM when you get your visa renewed or change jobs for a new visa.

A senior du official confirmed to Khaleej Times that residents will receive an SMS alert from the telecom provider for SIM re-registration when they are up for residency visa renewal. ‘‘Paperwork for residency papers and visa renewal will have to be followed by registration of the SIM card,’’ said Yasser Al Youssuf, director, premium personal market, du.

Residents have to visit du counters for re-registration, but the du official said the company is working to simplify procedures online. This is as per a Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) directive to telecom providers’ etisalat and du.

Meanwhile, the TRA has said there will be no extension of the deadline for registration of SIMs under the ‘My Number, My Identity’ campaign launched in mid-2012. Customers were required to complete registration of their numbers by October last year or risk disconnection. But as compliance fell short of expectations, the deadline was extended for another three months, to January 16.

The du official said over three million subscribers have completed the process in the first and second batches.

Source:

http://www.khaleejtimes.com/nation/inside.asp?section=nationgeneral&xfile=/data/nationgeneral/2013/January/nationgeneral_January318.xml