Filed on April 10, 2018 | Last updated on April 10, 2018 at 06.43 am

If the person needs bail, they will no longer require a friend or relative to keep their passport on their behalf.

The Dubai Public Prosecution will no longer be keeping any passports of residents or visitors who have been charged with a crime or need a bail. The data of the person instead will be stored electronically.

If the person needs bail, they will no longer require a friend or relative to keep their passport on their behalf.

The 'Smart Bail' initiative has been announced at the Dubai Government Excellence Programme on April 9.

Ali Humaid Al Khatim, Advocate General and Chief Prosector of Immigration at the Public Prosecution, told Khaleej Times that the move is to ensure they eliminate the method of holding passports.

?Last year, and almost every year, we held 50,000 passports and we want to reduce this. The resident or visitor will have all of their data saved in our system all over the UAE, so we will not need their passport," he said.

"This will also give the person ease because he can get his visa renewed or anything related to the passport because he will have the important document with him."

sarwat@khaleejtimes.com