Picture for illustrative purposes only. ARCHIVE

Dubai has handed down one of its largest-ever visa fraud rulings, with 161 defendants fined a total of Dh152,240,000 and ordered deported, the Citizenship & Residency Court announced. The court found the defendants guilty of serious visa and business violations, including shutting down companies without regularising the residency status of sponsored employees. Investigations also revealed that some defendants illegally traded and sold entry permits for personal gain. Authorities said the ruling underscores Dubai’s strict approach to protecting the integrity of its residency and labour systems. Officials stressed that misuse of visas or failure to comply with sponsorship laws will face severe penalties. This is not the first high-profile case. Earlier this year, 21 individuals were convicted in one of the emirate’s largest visa fraud operations, where they set up 33 fictitious companies using fake addresses to obtain 385 residency visas, which were later sold. They were fined Dh25.2 million and deported. The General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA) has consistently warned companies about hiring workers without valid residency permits or engaging in visa trading. Officials said these measures are designed to protect employees’ rights and maintain fair employment practices. “The UAE has a zero-tolerance approach to residency and labour law violations,” authorities said, noting that employers are legally required to regularise the status of all employees under their sponsorship. ICA/Expat Media
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