What Is a UID Number in the UAE and How Do You Find It?

Quick Read

• What it is: The UID (Unified Identification Number, also called the "Unified Number") is your permanent immigration file number in the UAE. It's created the first time a UAE entry permit or visa is issued for you.
• It doesn't change: Your visa file number changes with every new visa. Your UID stays the same for life, across employers, sponsors, renewals and passport changes.
• Where it's printed: On your UAE entry permit and residence visa (including e-visa PDFs), labelled "U.I.D. No." or "Unified No.", usually near the top.
• Dubai visa → GDRFA: Use GDRFA Dubai's free Unified Number Inquiry Service. You enter your passport number, nationality, date of birth and gender.
• Any other emirate → ICP: Use the File Validity service on ICP Smart Services (smartservices.icp.gov.ae) or the UAEICP app, and search by passport information.
• It's not your Emirates ID number: The two are separate numbers, and putting one in the other's field is a common reason applications get rejected.
• Two UIDs? Duplicates happen. You request a merge from GDRFA (Dubai files) or ICP (other emirates) before your next visa application.

What Is a UID Number in the UAE?

A UID number is the unique, permanent identifier the UAE immigration system assigns to every foreign national who is issued an entry permit or visa. Dubai records are managed by the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA Dubai, now styled on its own website as the General Directorate of Identity and Foreigners Affairs – Dubai). Records in the other six emirates are managed by the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP).

Think of it as the master key to your immigration history. Every entry permit, residence visa, renewal, cancellation and status change you've ever had in the UAE is filed under it. That's why government portals, typing centres, PRO teams and employers ask for it so often.

You may see it written several ways: UID, U.I.D. No., Unified No., Unified Number, Unified ID or Emirates Unified Number. All of these refer to the same number.

Who Gets a UID?

Anyone who is issued a UAE entry permit or visa gets one. That includes:

• Tourists and visit visa holders. The UID is created when the entry permit is issued, even for a short stay.
• Employees on employment residence visas
• Investors, partners and company owners on investor or partner visas
• Family members sponsored by a UAE resident, including spouses, children and parents
• Golden Visa and Green Visa holders

If you've never been issued a UAE visa or entry permit, you won't have a UID yet.

UID vs Visa File Number vs Emirates ID vs Passport Number

Rule of thumb: If a form asks for the "Unified Number" or "UID", don't enter your Emirates ID or visa file number. Copy the UID exactly as printed.

Where to Find Your UID Number

1. On your visa or entry permit (fastest)

Open your UAE residence visa, e-visa PDF or entry permit and look for the field labelled "U.I.D. No." or "Unified No." It's usually in the header section, near the visa file number. If you entered on a visit visa first, your UID was created then and is printed on that entry permit.

Note on length: Guides online quote different digit counts for the UID. Don't rely on any length rule. Copy the number exactly as it appears on your document or in the official lookup result.

2. Through GDRFA Dubai (for Dubai-issued visas)

GDRFA Dubai runs a dedicated Unified Number Inquiry Service that lets you find your UID without logging in:

• Go to gdrfad.gov.ae and open the Unified Number Inquiry Service (also listed as "Find my Unified Number").
• Enter your passport number exactly as it appears on your passport.
• Select your nationality.
• Enter your date of birth (day, month, year).
• Select your gender.
• Complete the security check and click Submit.

The service doesn't ask for a fee, a UAE PASS login or an Emirates ID number.

3. Through ICP Smart Services (for visas issued in Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain, Ras Al Khaimah or Fujairah)

1. Go to smartservices.icp.gov.ae or open the UAEICP app.
2. Under Public Services, select File Validity.
3. Choose Search by Passport Information (or by file number, if you have it).
4. Enter your passport details, nationality and date of birth, then search.
5. The result shows your file details, including your Unified Number (UID), along with file status and validity dates.

Not sure which authority holds your file?

The authority depends on which emirate issued your visa, not where you live now:

For business owners, your company's licensing jurisdiction usually tells you the answer:

• IFZA (Dubai Silicon Oasis) and Meydan Free Zone are Dubai free zones, so investor and employee visas are generally Dubai-issued. Check with GDRFA.
• RAKEZ (Ras Al Khaimah) visas are issued in RAK. Check with ICP.
• Ajman Free Zone and Ajman NuVentures visas are issued in Ajman. Check with ICP.
• SPC Free Zone (Sharjah) visas are issued in Sharjah. Check with ICP.
• FFZA (Fujairah) visas are issued in Fujairah. Check with ICP.

If one portal returns no record, try the other. Files sometimes sit with a different authority than people expect, for example after a transfer between emirates.

When Will You Need Your UID?

You'll be asked for your UID at most immigration touchpoints in the UAE, including:

• Changing status, for example from a visit visa to a residence visa inside the country
• Applying for or renewing a residence visa and the linked Emirates ID
• Sponsoring family members. The sponsor's file details link dependants' visas to the sponsor. See our family visa guide and parent sponsorship guide.
• Setting up a company and getting your investor or partner visa. Your personal immigration file is linked to the company's immigration records during setup and renewals.
• Checking visa status, fines or file validity on GDRFA or ICP
• Applying for long-term residency such as the UAE Golden Visa or Green Visa

Does Your UID Change When You Renew Your Passport?

No. Your UID stays the same. Your passport number does change, though, so your UAE immigration file needs to be updated with the new passport details. In Dubai, you do this through GDRFA or an Amer centre. In the other emirates, you do it through ICP or an ICP-registered typing centre.

If your file isn't updated, the system may not match your new passport to your existing record. This is one of the most common ways duplicate UIDs are created.

What If You Have Two UID Numbers?

Sometimes one person ends up with two UIDs. This usually happens because of a new passport that wasn't linked to the existing file, entries on different passports, or permits issued separately on different visits.

A duplicate UID can block or delay a visa application, an Emirates ID application or a status change, because the system can't tell which record is yours.

How to fix it:

1. Gather copies of every entry permit or visa showing the different UIDs, plus your current and previous passports.
2. Submit a UID merge request. In Dubai, this goes to GDRFA through its service channels or an Amer centre. In the other emirates, it goes to ICP through its service channels or an ICP-registered typing centre.
3. Once the merge is approved, run the lookup again to confirm only one UID comes back.

Timing tip: Fix a duplicate before you file your next visa application. If you find it in the middle of an application, the process can stall until the records are merged.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Entering your Emirates ID number in the UID field. They're different numbers.
• Using an expired visa's file number as if it were your UID. File numbers change with every visa; the UID doesn't.
• Searching on the wrong portal. A Dubai-issued visa won't always show up on ICP's search, and vice versa.
• Typing your passport number in a different format. Enter it exactly as it appears on the bio page.
• Using unofficial "UID check" websites. Only use gdrfad.gov.ae and smartservices.icp.gov.ae (or the official apps). Never share passport details with look-alike sites.

How Consult Kumar Can Help

UID problems usually come up at the worst possible time, in the middle of a company setup, a family sponsorship or a visa renewal. Our Visa & PRO services team handles immigration file checks, passport updates and UID merges as part of investor, employee and family visa processing. That way, your file is clean before the application goes in.

Setting up a new company? Our complete guide to business setup in Dubai walks you through how licensing, visas and your immigration file fit together.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a UID number in the UAE?

A UID (Unified Identification Number) is a permanent number the UAE immigration authorities assign to every foreign national who is issued a UAE entry permit or visa. It links all of your entry permits, residence visas, renewals and cancellations under one immigration file. GDRFA manages Dubai files and ICP manages files in the other six emirates.

How do I find my UID number in the UAE?

Check the "U.I.D. No." or "Unified No." field on your UAE entry permit or residence visa. If you don't have your visa copy, use GDRFA Dubai's Unified Number Inquiry Service for a Dubai-issued visa, or the File Validity service on ICP Smart Services for a visa issued in any other emirate. Both searches use your passport details.

Can I check my UID number online with my passport number?

Yes. GDRFA Dubai's Unified Number Inquiry Service asks for your passport number, nationality, date of birth and gender. ICP's File Validity service lets you search by passport information. Neither lookup asks for a fee.

Is the UID number the same as the Emirates ID number?

No. The UID is your immigration file number, printed on your visa and entry permit. The Emirates ID number belongs to your identity card record. Forms ask for them separately, so don't swap one for the other.

Is the UID number the same as the visa file number?

No. The visa file number belongs to one specific visa and changes every time a new visa is issued. The UID stays the same for life.

Does my UID number change when I change jobs or renew my visa?

No. Your UID stays the same across job changes, sponsor changes, visa renewals and cancellations. Only the visa file number changes.

Do tourists get a UID number?

Yes. A UID is created when a UAE entry permit is issued, including visit and tourist visas. That's why people who first came to the UAE as visitors already have a UID when they later apply for residency.

What should I do if I have two UID numbers?

Request a UID merge from the authority that holds your file: GDRFA for Dubai, or ICP for the other emirates. Provide copies of the entry permits or visas showing each UID and your passports. Get the merge done before your next visa application to avoid delays.

Does my UID change if I get a new passport?

No. Your UID stays the same, but you should update your UAE immigration file with your new passport details. If you don't, the new passport may create a separate record, which is a common cause of duplicate UIDs.

Sources Verified

• GDRFA Dubai: Unified Number Inquiry Service (official service page, gdrfad.gov.ae/en/unified-number-inquiry-service, checked October 2026)
• ICP: File Validity service, ICP Smart Services (smartservices.icp.gov.ae)
• GDRFA Dubai: official website (gdrfad.gov.ae), for the authority's current name and service listing

This guide reflects UAE government sources as of October 2026. Portal layouts and service names change from time to time. Confirm your case with GDRFA or ICP, or speak with our team for current guidance.

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