How much does national id card cost in the GCC? 2026 fees

Not always, and we would rather say so. If your documents are valid and the transaction is available in an app, file it yourself. Paying a service fee makes sense when a submission has already been rejected without explanation, when several authorities are involved in sequence, or when a deadline fine would exceed the fee.

Comparing headline fees alone is misleading, because renewal cycles differ between states. A lower fee renewed annually can cost more over three years than a higher fee renewed every three. Compare the fee and the renewal cycle together, both of which are in the table on this page.

Because the government fee is only one line. Typing or service centre fees, urgent processing surcharges, delivery, medical tests, insurance and translation are charged separately, and providers bundle them differently. Ask for the government fee and the service fee split out before agreeing to anything.

They are indicative planning figures drawn from the issuing authorities and consistent public sources, and they are dated. Government fees change without much notice and free zone schedules are set independently. Always confirm the current amount with the issuing authority before you pay.

You are still inside the 30-day Emirates ID grace window. Open ICP Smart Services or UAE Pass, choose Renew Emirates ID, confirm your residence is also current, and pay the per-year card fee (AED 100 per year of residence validity plus AED 40 online service fee). Keep the renewal reference and tell your bank, employer, and telecom that a new card is in transit; most accept the digital UAE Pass identity in the interim. If you cross day 30 the AED 20 per day fine starts, capped at AED 1,000, and the file is paid before printing.

Government cost is AED 100 per year of validity. A two-year private-sector resident pays AED 200 for the card. Online service fee is AED 40 through ICP Smart Services or UAE Pass; a typing centre charges AED 70 to AED 100. Express Fawri printing adds AED 150 for 24-hour issuance. Total for a typical two-year renewal at a typing centre runs around AED 370. Golden Visa Emirates IDs follow the same per-year rate, so a five-year card is AED 500 plus the service fee.

A one-year QID renewal is QAR 500. A three-year renewal is QAR 900, giving a 20% discount per year over the annual cycle (effective QAR 300 per year versus QAR 500). The three-year route is available through Metrash only if your residence permit also runs three years, and most private-sector RPs cap at one year unless the employer is an investor-grade entity. Home delivery via Q-Post costs an additional QAR 20 collected on delivery; pickup at MOI service centres is free.

Since 2026 Absher and Muqeem permit Iqama renewal for dependents outside the Kingdom provided the sponsor is physically present in Saudi Arabia and all fees (SAR 650 plus the SAR 9,600 work-permit levy plus dependent monthly fees if any) are paid. The primary worker themselves usually needs to be inside Saudi Arabia for renewal, and Jawazat may flag accounts where the absence exceeds 180 days. Confirm in Absher before paying because once the SADAD payment posts the renewal proceeds with no refund route.

Emirates ID is the mandatory federal identity card every UAE resident and citizen carries, issued by ICP and required to open a bank account, activate a SIM, enrol children in school or clear immigration. Renewal costs AED 100 per year of validity plus service and delivery fees, around AED 290 to 305 for a two-year card, arriving in three to seven working days or same-day via the AED 150 Fawri option. The biggest blocker is letting the card lapse: AED 20 per day fines start after a 30-day grace period. Wathim's desk files the ICP application and tracks the delivery.

The Iqama, or Muqeem Card, is the residency permit every non-Saudi worker and most dependents must carry inside Saudi Arabia, issued by Jawazat under the Ministry of Interior and renewed by the sponsor on Muqeem. The standard renewal fee is SAR 650 a year for private-sector workers, and a clean renewal clears the same day. The biggest blocker is a lapsed CCHI health insurance policy or an unpaid dependent levy silently failing Muqeem's pre-check. Wathim's desk runs the full pre-check and submission for you, so nothing slips past the deadline.

The Qatar ID (QID) is the mandatory national identity card and residence-permit record for every Qatari citizen and expatriate resident over 12. Expatriates renew it for QAR 500 a year (QAR 900 for three years, QAR 1,500 for five), and a clean renewal on Metrash updates the new expiry within seconds. The single biggest blocker is silent: outstanding traffic fines or a lapsed MOPH-approved health insurance policy quietly stop the renewal screen from progressing, with no error message explaining why. Wathim's desk clears those blockers, confirms your insurance link and files the renewal for you end to end.

The CPR is Bahrain's mandatory national ID card, issued by the Information and eGovernment Authority and required by every citizen, GCC national, and expat with valid residence. Standard renewal costs BHD 5 and runs through bahrain.bh with eKey, closing in 2 to 5 working days once biometrics aren't needed. The single biggest blocker is an expired or in-transfer LMRA or NPRA permit, which silently stops the CPR file until the underlying residence is sorted first. Wathim's desk checks that permit status upfront, files the renewal, and tracks courier delivery, so the card arrives without the usual last-minute scramble.

The Oman Resident Card (Bitaqa) is the biometric national ID the Royal Oman Police issues to every expatriate resident, distinct from the residence visa that grants the right to stay. Under Ministerial Decision 157/2025 the fee is OMR 5 per year, most renewals finish in 1-5 working days, and the biggest blocker is letting the card lapse more than 30 days past expiry, which triggers an administrative fine. Wathim's desk tracks the deadline and runs the Sanad visit - booking, biometrics, and payment - end to end.

The Civil ID (Bitaqa Madaniya) is Kuwait's mandatory identity card, issued by PACI to every citizen and resident and required for banking, schooling, and most government transactions. Renewal costs KD 5 per year of validity, paid by KNET on paci.gov.kw or the Kuwait Mobile ID app, with the physical card usually arriving in 3 to 10 working days. The single biggest blocker is an expired residence: PACI will not renew the Civil ID until Sahel shows the residence itself renewed. Wathim's desk checks that sequencing, files the renewal, and tracks the card through delivery.