ICP — UAE federal identity authority.
Emirates ID + Abu Dhabi residency + federal entry permits + customs + port security. Operates smartservices.icp.gov.ae. Created 2022 by federal decree merging ICA + customs / port security mandate.
What ICP is, in one paragraph.
The UAE Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security — known by its acronym ICP — is the federal-level authority overseeing Emirates ID, residency administration outside Dubai, federal entry permits, customs operations, and port security. ICP was created by Federal Decree-Law No. 17 of 2022 which merged the prior Identity and Citizenship Authority (ICA) with the federal customs and port security mandate. Public-facing channel: smartservices.icp.gov.ae portal, requiring UAE Pass authentication for individual transactions. For Dubai residents, GDRFA handles emirate-level residency; ICP issues the federal Emirates ID. For Abu Dhabi and northern emirates, ICP handles residency end-to-end.
Core scope.
- Emirates ID issuance + renewal: biometrics, card production, delivery — all emirates.
- Abu Dhabi + northern emirate residency: entry permits, residency stamping, family sponsorship for non-Dubai emirates.
- Federal entry permits: visit, transit, employment-route entry permits.
- Customs operations: federal customs policy, port security, smuggling enforcement.
- Citizenship + naturalisation: federal-level citizenship matters.
- UAE Pass: the federal digital-identity service used across UAE government services.
Where ICP comes up.
Connected concepts.
UAE business administration is a graph of overlapping authorities. Each term below intersects with the one you're reading.
Dubai DED
Dubai's mainland trade-licensing authority.
GDRFA
Dubai residency authority — entry permits + visa stamping.
MOHRE
UAE federal labour ministry — work permits + employment contracts.
FTA
UAE Federal Tax Authority — Corporate Tax + VAT.
MoFAIC
UAE Foreign Affairs ministry — foreign-document attestation.
Tasheel
MOHRE labour-services delivery network.
Ejari
Dubai Land Department's tenancy registration system.
Amer
GDRFA Dubai residency-services delivery channel.
Frequently asked questions
What is ICP?
ICP — Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security — is the UAE federal authority responsible for Emirates ID issuance, residency administration in Abu Dhabi and the northern emirates, federal entry permits, customs operations, and port security. Created by Federal Decree-Law No. 17 of 2022 (which merged the previous ICA — Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship — with the federal customs and port security mandate). Smart-services portal at smartservices.icp.gov.ae.
ICP vs GDRFA — which one do I use?
Dubai-based applicants use GDRFA (via Amer typing centres) for residency-related transactions. Abu Dhabi and other-emirate applicants use ICP Smart Services. Emirates ID issuance is universally handled by ICP regardless of emirate (biometrics + card production). Federal customs and port operations are ICP-only. Most YABS clients are Dubai-based and interact primarily with GDRFA + ICP for EID specifically.
How do I do an ICP transaction online?
Smart Services portal at smartservices.icp.gov.ae handles most transactions: residency renewal, status change, family sponsorship in Abu Dhabi, EID renewal coordination, federal entry permits. UAE Pass authentication required for individual users. For company-sponsored visas, an authorised PRO firm typically handles the filing on the company's behalf via institutional access.
ICP transaction handled by YABS
Emirates ID, residency, family sponsorship — coordinated end-to-end without you visiting the centres.
This page was last reviewed by the YABS compliance team in Q2 2026 and reflects current Dubai DED, Dubai Municipality, DHA, MOHRE, FTA, and DLD requirements.