The mobile number linked to your Emirates ID is more important than most people realise. It is where one-time passwords (OTPs) arrive for UAE PASS, ICP services, banking verification and dozens of government transactions. If you change your SIM or lose your old number and do not update it, you can find yourself locked out of services at exactly the moment you need them, during a visa renewal, a fine payment or a bank transaction. This guide shows how to change the mobile number registered against your Emirates ID, through every official route.
One clarification first: this page is about the number recorded in the ICP (Emirates ID) system. Updating your Emirates ID with your telecom provider is a different task, if Etisalat (e&) has an old ID or number on file, see our separate Etisalat Emirates ID update guide. Many people need to do both.
Before You Start: What You Need
- Your Emirates ID card, you will need the 15-digit number (it starts with 784).
- The new mobile number, active and in your hand, an OTP will be sent to it during the process.
- The new SIM registered in your own name, UAE SIMs are registered against an Emirates ID; for ICP and UAE PASS purposes, the number should be registered under the same ID you are updating. A family member's SIM is a common cause of failed verification.
- UAE PASS (for the online routes), if your UAE PASS itself is tied to the old number, read the note in the in-person method below before you begin.
Method 1: ICP Smart Services (Online)
- Go to smartservices.icp.gov.ae and log in with UAE PASS.
- Open your profile / personal data section and look for the update contact details option (ICP groups this with its personal-data update services; if you cannot see it, use the portal search for "update" or "mobile").
- Enter the new mobile number exactly as it should receive OTPs.
- Confirm with the OTP sent to the new number.
- Submit and wait for the confirmation message. The change is usually reflected quickly, but allow up to 24 hours before relying on it for a time-sensitive transaction.
Note: ICP renames and regroups portal services from time to time. If the menu path above does not match what you see, the service-center route below always works.
Method 2: The UAEICP App
- Open the UAEICP app (official ICP app, iOS/Android) and log in with UAE PASS.
- Go to your profile and open the contact-details section.
- Choose to edit the mobile number, type the new number, and verify it with the OTP sent to that number.
- Confirm and save. You should receive a confirmation in the app and by SMS.
The app route is the most convenient for most residents because the same app is used for ID services like status checks and downloading your digital ID.
Method 3: Service Center or Typing Center
Use this route if the online methods fail, if you no longer have access to the old number and your UAE PASS is tied to it (a common lock-out), or if you are updating several personal details at once.
- Visit an ICP Customer Happiness Center (in Dubai, an Amer center can also help) or an authorised typing center.
- Bring your original Emirates ID and the new SIM/phone.
- Ask for a mobile number update on your ID file. Staff will verify your identity (biometrics may be used) and register the new number, confirming it with an OTP to the new SIM.
- Typing centers charge a small service fee; ICP centers handle the government update itself.
After the Change: UAE PASS and Other Services
Updating ICP's record does not automatically update every service that ever took your number. After the change, check these:
| Service | What to do |
|---|---|
| UAE PASS | Open the app, if it still shows the old number, update it in UAE PASS settings; UAE PASS is the login for most government portals, so this is the priority. |
| Your bank | Update the number with your bank separately, banks do not read ICP's record automatically, and OTP failures on banking are the most common lock-out. |
| Telecom (e&/du) | If the new SIM itself needs your ID details refreshed, follow our Etisalat ID update guide (and the equivalent process for du). |
| Employer / PRO records | Tell your employer's HR/PRO, visa and labour messages often go to the number they hold, not ICP's. |
Finally, if your number changed because your card is also expiring soon, combine the errands: update the number first, then renew online without OTP problems using our Emirates ID renewal guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I change my Emirates ID mobile number online?
Yes, through ICP Smart Services or the UAEICP app, logged in with UAE PASS. The new number is verified by an OTP sent to the new SIM. If you are locked out of UAE PASS because it is tied to the old number, use a service center instead.
Does the new SIM have to be in my own name?
For reliable verification, yes. UAE SIMs are registered against an Emirates ID, and ICP/UAE PASS checks work best when the number is registered under the same ID. Using someone else's SIM commonly causes OTP and identity-verification failures.
How much does it cost to change the mobile number?
Updating your contact details through ICP's own channels is free or carries only a nominal service charge. A typing center adds its own service fee for doing it for you.
How long does the change take to take effect?
Usually quickly, often within the same session, and safely within 24 hours. Test it by requesting an OTP from an ICP service before relying on it for an urgent transaction.
I lost my old number and UAE PASS sends codes to it. What now?
Go in person to an ICP Customer Happiness Center (or Amer in Dubai) with your original Emirates ID. Staff can verify you biometrically and register the new number, which breaks the lock-out. Then update UAE PASS with the new number.
Is updating ICP the same as updating my number with Etisalat or du?
No, they are separate records. ICP holds the number on your ID file; your telecom holds its own KYC record. Change both, or OTPs from one side will keep going to the old number.
Conclusion
Changing the mobile number on your Emirates ID is a ten-minute job online, and a small errand in person if you are locked out, but it protects every OTP-based service you use in the UAE. Do it the same week you change your SIM, keep the new number registered in your own name, and remember to update UAE PASS and your bank afterwards. If your ID itself needs attention too, our fine check and validity check guides are the natural next steps.