Emirates ID card (also called the National Identity Card) is an identification card, issued by the Emirates Identity Authority (EIA) (EIDA), that all UAE citizens (optional for diplomats) and residents are required to obtain. It will be necessary to produce your Emirates ID card to use UAE government services.
30 June 2011 - new deadline for Emirates ID card applications. Announced 25 December 2010 in EIDA press release (... its board of directors had approved a recommendation to extend the deadline for the registration of nationals in the ID card and Population Register for 6 months only to 30/06/2011).

Emirates ID card application process
1. Find an Emirates ID card application center.
2. Go there and try to apply for an Emirates ID card. They will probably give you an application form to fill in, or tell you to download it from the website and fill it in, then make an appointment via the website, then go to an official typing center to fill in the application form properly, then wait for a sms text message notifying you of your appointment, then return to the Emirates ID card center to complete your application.
3. Or if you're (update end 2010: very very very) lucky, you'll be able to complete everything there when you visit.
4. Or if you prefer to follow the official procedure, you could apply online for an appointment, fill in an application form, go to a typing center to get it filled in again properly, and wait for an sms notifying you of your appointment date and time. But don't blame us if that's not correct. We don't really know what's going on either.
5. Or, you could wait it out until Emirates ID Authority decides this is all not working out very well and they'll let you do the Emirates ID card when your residence visa comes up for renewal. Unless they try to force everyone to apply for a card immediately by disconnecting mobile phones (almost everyone has at least one or two) until you get your ID card

Emirates ID card application form online download
The Emirates ID website has an online pre-registration form available for download ... sometimes. It's probably less stressful not to bother and just fill in the form at the Emirates ID registration center.

Emirates ID card uses
The UAE newspaper Emarat Al Youm reported 28 April 2010 that all public internet cafes and other access venues would be required to ask customers for their Emirates ID card to help the UAE Ministry of Interior reduce or eliminate cyber-crime, pornography, and child sex abuse. The Secretary-General of the UAE Interior Ministry, Major General Nasser Lakhraibani (Al Khuraibani / La Khreibani) Naimi (Naser Salem Al Khreibani Al Neimi), said this would "develop levels of awareness and protection of children against the potential risks from the use of the internet." Er, right, perhaps it would.
www.emirates.ae - Emirates Identity Authority and Emirates ID card website.