At the Al Awir Centre in Dubai. GDRFA

The UAE will implement hefty fines on employers who hire illegal residents following the end of the visa amnesty. The amnesty, which was initially set to end on October 31, is now extended for two more months to December 31, the  Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs, and Port Security (ICP) announced. The program, launched by the ICP and Dubai’s General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA), allows residency violators a chance to exit the UAE without an entry ban or to secure lawful employment by regularizing their status. According to the ICP, authorities will conduct extensive inspections following the end of the amnesty period, imposing fines ranging from Dh100,000 to Dh1 million on companies employing residency violators. This move aims to enforce a federal decree that addresses illegal employment and curbs unregulated labor practices across the country. According to ICP, many residency violators have seized this amnesty opportunity. Amr and Al Aweer centers in Dubai have reported a sharp increase in visits from residents seeking to resolve their residency status, particularly in the final days of the grace period. Colonel Abdullah Atiq, Deputy Assistant Director General for Investigation Affairs at GDRFA, highlighted that this amnesty does not cover individuals with court-ordered deportation or those who must settle criminal cases before benefiting from the grace period. “It is crucial that those who cannot secure employment leave the country within the amnesty period,” said Col. Atiq. “This allows them to exit without facing penalties and provides a potential path for reentry in the future without a ban if they obtain exit permits.” Violators who do not take action will see all previously waived fines reactivated and may face renewed penalties, including the possibility of being added to entry ban lists. Authorities will focus their inspection efforts on areas and industries with high concentrations of violators to ensure compliance. ICA/Expat Media
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