People of Determination ID Card (POD Card)

Offered by Ministry of Community Development

Federal ID card unlocking discounts, parking permits, and priority public services across the UAE for autistic citizens and residents with a confirmed diagnosis.

Applying for a People of Determination (POD) Card in the UAE<blockquote>A community resource for families. Government procedures, links and requirements can change — please confirm current details with the relevant authority before applying.</blockquote>The People of Determination (POD) Card is the UAE-wide identification card for citizens and residents with a recognised disability — including autism, ADHD, intellectual, learning, physical, sensory, communication and multiple disabilities. It is issued free by the Ministry of Community Empowerment (MOCE), formerly the Ministry of Community Development. Tourists are not eligible for the federal card.The application has the same backbone everywhere: get an accredited report → prepare your documents → set up UAE Pass → apply. Only two emirates add or change a step.<h2>The federal POD Card application</h2>This is the core process for the national card, and it applies in every emirate. Abu Dhabi and Dubai add a step or use a different portal — see “What's different by emirate” after this.<h3>1. Get an accredited assessment or medical report</h3>This is the most important document, and the one that delays most applications. Start it first. The report type depends on the disability:<ul><li>Autism, ADHD, intellectual disability, specific learning disability — a psychological, educational or developmental assessment report.</li><li>Physical, visual, hearing, sensory or medical disability — a medical report.</li></ul>The report should clearly state the diagnosis, the type of disability, the severity or functional impact, any support needs or assistive devices, and the name, stamp and details of the issuing specialist or authority.MOCE accepts psychological and educational reports from centres including the Zayed Authority for People of Determination, Sharjah City for Humanitarian Services, the Learning Disabilities Center and the Dubai Autism Center, and accepts recent medical reports from government health entities.Getting the report through a public hospitalFor many families the most accessible route is their emirate's government health provider — Dubai Health / DHA in Dubai, SEHA in Abu Dhabi, and Emirates Health Services in Sharjah and the Northern Emirates. The usual pathway:<ol><li>Book at a government primary health centre or clinic.</li><li>Ask for a referral for a developmental, psychological, psychiatric, paediatric or specialist assessment, as appropriate.</li><li>Attend the appointment and complete the assessment.</li><li>Ask specifically for a written diagnostic report for the POD Card application.</li></ol><blockquote>Important: The written report is not always issued automatically. Request it clearly at the end of the assessment, and ask in advance whether there is a separate fee — the assessment and the report may be charged separately.</blockquote><h3>2. Prepare your documents</h3>Have clear scans or photos ready before you start. You may need:<ul><li>Emirates ID</li><li>Passport-size photo with a white background</li><li>The accredited medical, psychological or educational report</li><li>Passport and residence visa copies, for expatriate residents, if requested</li><li>Parent or guardian Emirates ID, if applying for a child</li><li>Any school, therapy or supporting documents, if requested</li></ul><blockquote>Tip: Requirements can change. Check the latest checklist on the official portal before you submit.</blockquote><h3>3. Set up UAE Pass</h3>POD Card applications require a UAE Pass login. To set it up: download the UAE Pass app, scan your Emirates ID, verify your mobile number and email by OTP, create a PIN, and complete face verification.<h3>4. Apply through the MOCE portal</h3>Open the MOCE People of Determination Card service and select Start the Service, then:<ol><li>Log in with UAE Pass.</li><li>Choose to apply for a new People of Determination Card.</li><li>Enter the beneficiary's details exactly as shown on the Emirates ID.</li><li>Select the correct disability category.</li><li>Upload your documents (Emirates ID, white-background photo, the report, and passport/visa for expatriate residents if requested).</li><li>Review carefully, then submit.</li><li>Save the reference number and watch for SMS or email updates.</li></ol><blockquote><blockquote>Good to know: The federal POD Card is free, and the service is delivered in around 7 working days. For help, call the Ministry of Family on 800 114.</blockquote></blockquote><h3>5. After you apply</h3>The authority reviews your documents and either approves the application, asks for more documents, or asks you to complete further evaluation. Once approved, the card is issued or made available electronically. Keep your reference number and check SMS, email and the portal regularly.If an application is rejected, it is usually because the report is incomplete, not recent enough, not from an accepted authority, or does not clearly describe the diagnosis and functional impact. You can normally reapply after updating the report.<h2>What's different by emirate</h2>The federal card above is the same everywhere. These are the only differences to know.<h3>Sharjah, Ajman, Ras Al Khaimah, Umm Al Quwain & Fujairah — federal only</h3>Apply for the federal POD Card through MOCE exactly as above — nothing extra. For the assessment report, families in Sharjah can use Sharjah City for Humanitarian Services (an accepted MOCE centre). In Ajman, RAK, Umm Al Quwain and Fujairah, families usually start with Emirates Health Services hospitals and clinics, or another accepted centre. Either way, ask clearly for a written report for the application.<h3>Abu Dhabi — different portal</h3>Abu Dhabi residents apply through the TAMM portal rather than the MOCE portal, with services linked to the Zayed Authority for People of Determination (formerly the Zayed Higher Organization for People of Determination). The steps mirror the federal process: open the TAMM People of Determination Card service, log in with UAE Pass, complete the form, upload your assessment report and identity documents, submit, and follow any notifications. Once approved, you obtain the electronic POD Card through TAMM. The Zayed Authority can also help with assessments and support.<h3>Dubai — federal + Sanad</h3>Dubai residents apply for the federal POD Card as above, and then also apply for the Sanad Card — Dubai's local People of Determination card, issued by the Community Development Authority (CDA). Apply for the federal card first, as it can support the Sanad application.To apply for Sanad: open the CDA Sanad Card service, continue through the CDA digital portal, enter the applicant and beneficiary details, and upload your documents (Emirates ID, passport, residence visa, proof of Dubai residence, a recent photo, the report, and the federal POD Card if you have it). CDA reviews the request and notifies you by SMS or through the portal.The Sanad Card identifies the holder as a Person of Determination in Dubai and supports local benefits — RTA and Nol services, Dubai Taxi's special-needs service, Salik exemption for eligible vehicles, parking support, and discounts from participating organisations. Several of these need a separate application; the card alone does not activate every benefit.<h2>What the card helps with</h2>Benefits vary by emirate and authority, and many are not automatic — the card confirms your eligibility, but you often apply separately with the relevant provider. Depending on where you live, the card can support:<ul><li>Proof of People of Determination status</li><li>Priority access to some government services</li><li>Access to rehabilitation, therapy and support services</li><li>Education-related support and accommodations</li><li>Parking permits and transport benefits (usually a separate application)</li><li>Toll or transport exemptions, in some cases, depending on emirate and eligibility</li><li>Telecom, healthcare, attraction and community discounts from participating providers</li><li>Local support programmes in Dubai and Abu Dhabi</li></ul><h2>All official links</h2>Federal — for everyone<ul><li><a target="blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://alusra.gov.ae/en/services/determination-card/">POD Card — Ministry of Family (Al Usra) service page</a></li><li><a target="blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://digitalservices.mocd.gov.ae/e-services/pod-new-card?lang=en">Apply for the POD Card (application portal)</a></li><li><a target="blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icp.gov.ae/en/uae-pass/">UAE Pass setup</a></li></ul>Abu Dhabi<ul><li><a target="blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.tamm.abudhabi/en/life-events/individual/Discover-Emirati-Benefits/PoD-Support/requestpeopleofdeterminationid">TAMM — POD Card</a></li><li><a target="blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.za.gov.ae/">Zayed Authority for People of Determination</a></li></ul>Dubai<ul><li><a target="blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.cda.gov.ae/en/socialcare/PeopleWithDisabilities/pages/sanadcard.aspx">CDA — Sanad Card</a></li><li><a target="blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.rta.ae/">RTA</a></li><li><a target="blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.salik.ae/en/salik-services/other-services/people-of-determination-exemptions">Salik — People of Determination exemption</a></li><li><a target="blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.dubaitaxi.ae/en/our-services/special-needs-taxi">Dubai Taxi — special-needs taxi</a></li></ul>Assessment centres<ul><li><a target="blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.schs.ae/en">Sharjah City for Humanitarian Services</a></li><li><a target="blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.dubaiautismcenter.ae/">Dubai Autism Center</a></li></ul>Government health providers<ul><li><a target="blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ehs.gov.ae/">Emirates Health Services (Sharjah & Northern Emirates)</a></li><li><a target="blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.seha.ae/">SEHA (Abu Dhabi)</a></li><li><a target="blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://dubaihealth.ae/">Dubai Health</a></li></ul><h2>A note to parents</h2>This guide is put together to help families navigate the POD Card process in the UAE. Procedures, links, document requirements and benefits can change, so please confirm the latest details with the relevant authority before applying.Spotted something out of date, or have a centre or tip to add? We'd genuinely welcome it — write to us at <a target="blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="mailto:support@autismresourcehub.com">support@autismresourcehub.com</a>. Your feedback keeps this accurate for the next family.

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