Now the ID card

The new challenge is to get an ID card as well as your Visa.
The UAE authorities want all Western Expats to register for them - they were expecting about 600,000 expats to register but the process and particulay the ID website has been such a disaster they have struggled to register even 20% of this number. Therefore they were forced to extend the the deadline until end March (3 months)
It took me a month to fill out the forms, and I was only successful when they changed the web site software. The appointment system (webform and texts) frustrated me 10 times - each time the text came 24 hours too late to register on the 2nd stage of the webform.
So finally I phoned the help line - really helpful emirati genetlemen, who was very apologetic and booked me appointment, except everytime he meant to say January ( as we debated to find a time that fit my diary) he said June, so I was bemused until I finally received a text confirming my appointment from the IDA in January.
Will let you know how I get on.
Update 10/1 - Reconnoitred the Al Taawun Centre this am where I have to register - huge queues does not bode well.