The UAE Amnesty program was originally scheduled to expire on October 31, 2024, but it was extended to provide overstayers additional time to regularize their status. Illegal residents have been urged by a senior official at the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA) to take advantage as the UAE visa amnesty ends on December 31, 2024.
To provide overstayers more time to regularize their status or return to their home countries without incurring penalties or fines, the amnesty program, which started on September 1 and was originally scheduled to terminate on October 31, 2024, was extended.
Final Warning To Overstayers
“The UAE visa amnesty ends on December 31st and overstayers who have not yet regularized their status should use the remaining time of the grace period to rectify their residency violations,” said Lieutenant General Mohammed Ahmed Al Marri, Director General of the GDRFA, emphasizing the severity of the matter.
Increased Scrutiny
The assistant director general of the Violators and Foreigners Follow-up Sector, Major General Salah Al Qamzi, emphasized that the next phase would see heightened inspection efforts and stringent actions against those who do not seize this chance.
“We are dedicated to applying the law fairly and transparently. As soon as the grace period concludes, we will launch more intensive inspection campaigns to further improve neighborhood security,” Al Qamzi stated.
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Request Assistance From The Community
To raise awareness of the amnesty initiative, Al Marri also urged community-wide support.
“The amnesty has pleased everyone. Many illegal inhabitants have taken the initiative seriously and profited from it, and everything has gone nicely,” Al Marri added. “Many people who took advantage of the amnesty have found employment and are now leading fulfilling lives.”
He did, however, voice concern about those who continue to disregard the initiative because they question its validity. “People continue to visit my office to inquire about the authenticity of the amnesty. “They ought to realize that we are here to assist you,” he stated.
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Humanitarian Assistance
Al-Marri spoke about the amnesty’s humanitarian component while narrating the experiences of families and kids who have profited from the program. “We have linked people without passports to the appropriate embassies. They returned home contented.
He gave examples of kids whose circumstances were challenging. Children raised by their mothers and did not know their fathers had been observed. Dubai Health gave these kids vaccinations even though they lacked the necessary permits. It was our responsibility to look after them.
The Director General commended his team’s efforts to assist overstayers in returning home or regularizing their status. He urged communities to spread the amnesty word, saying, “I am proud of the team who helped people go back home.”
“It is our responsibility to make others’ lives easier,” Al Marri reminded everyone firmly. Those who choose not to take advantage of this amnesty will later hold themselves accountable. The initiative will end in less than 15 days. Come, start over, get rid of the fines, and regularize your status.