'I'm free': Mother overjoyed as visa amnesty allows her to reunite with her children

Thousands of people seek to legalise their stay in the Emirates

Florence Kadi from Kenya got her exit pass to leave the UAE. She arrived in Dubai in 2019 and worked as a housemaid, but found herself living here illegally when her residency expired in October 2021. Photo: Suhail Akram / The NationalShow less

A woman who was staying illegally in the UAE broke into tears as she obtained her exit pass on Sunday morning, knowing she will see her children again after four years.

Florence Kadi, a 41-year-old Kenyan woman, arrived at Dubai's Al Awir immigration centre to waive her fines as part of the two-month amnesty initiative.

She was one of thousands of people with expired documents who began queuing up at centres across the country on Sunday as they sought to legalise their stay in the UAE.

Ms Kadi arrived in Dubai in 2019 and worked as a housemaid, but found herself living here illegally when her residency expired in October 2021.

“I didn’t see my children for years because of the visa fines. I miss my family as I left my children when they were small. Every day they ask me when I will be coming back,” she told The National.

Inside the UAE visa amnesty centre on the first day

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“Now my children will be happy as I can tell them that I’m coming home. I’m free to go home. I was emotional when they gave me the exit pass.

“The UAE is a good country as they give you the chance to go home without paying fines."

For Christopher Kyeyunemr, 29, from Uganda, living illegally for the past two years was a very difficult time.

He arrived in Dubai in November 2020 and worked as a cleaner, then as a security guard.

“I was one of the first people to obtain the exit pass. It has been a horrible time because I came here to make money not to run into extra expenses which were caused by some untrustworthy travel agents,” Mr Kyeyunemr told The National.

“My former company cancelled my work permit but I tried to find a new job. I tried to apply for a new visa but couldn’t.”

As soon as he heard about the amnesty he paid for his flight home and made sure he was first in the queue on Sunday morning.

For residents whose fingerprints are already on the system, the process of getting an exit pass is instantaneous. For applicants who overstayed a visit visa and therefore did not register their fingerprints when entering the country, the process can take up to 48 hours.

“I booked my ticket home and came here at 7.30am for when the doors opened. I got my exit pass and am now going to Dubai Airport to catch my 10.30am flight,” he said.

“This initiative is big step for me and for anyone to clear their fines and change their status. It is like a grace that’s been bestowed upon us, so you have to use it wisely.”

Venus Devera, from the Philippines, with her daughter Alvia Faith. Pawan Singh / The National

Venus Devera from the Philippines brought her 15-month-old daughter, Alvia Faith, to waive the fines and put her daughter under her husband’s residency.

“My daughter was born in the Philippines. I brought her to the UAE this year with a visit visa. We paid around Dh3,000 to an agency to make her a resident. I checked and the system showed she is not a resident and that she has overstay fines,” Ms Devera told The National.

“I came here with my husband to waive the overstay fines and change her status. I want to put her under my husband’s residency.”

The GDRFA-Dubai centre in Al Awir has two tents, separating men and women.

It can accommodate more than 2,000 people with many counters to collect fingerprints.

The penalty for remaining in the country on an expired visa is Dh50 ($13.6) per day for tourists or residents - meaning that many owe thousands, or tens of thousands, of dirhams.

UAE visa amnesty begins - in pictures

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  Faral Ally Hamis, from Tanzania, during the second day of visa amnesty at the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs Dubai in Al Awir area. All photos: Pawan Singh / The National

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  People wait to be seen at the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs Dubai.

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  Officials help direct those waiting during the second day of visa amnesty in Dubai.

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  Visitors were given free coconut water at the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs Dubai.

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  Kashem Samir Hossain, from Bangladesh, during the second day of visa amnesty at the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs.

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  Officials help during the second day of visa amnesty at the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs Dubai.

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  Officials deal with the queues at the visa amnesty at the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs in Al Awir, Dubai.

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  Maj Gen Obaid Muhair bin Suroor, Deputy Director General of GDRFA, centre, talking to visitors

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  Officials in the women's section during the visa amnesty

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  People who have overstayed their residence or visit visas will not be fined

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  Venus Devera from the Philippines with her 15-month-old daughter Alvia Faith at the General Directorate in Dubai

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  The two-month initiative is open for people with expired residency and visit visas

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  Christopher Kyeyunemr, 29, from Uganda, was one of the first people to obtain the exit pass after living illegally for two years

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  Companies set up their stands to recruit candidates during the visa amnesty

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  Bachaire Polindao from the Philippines with her 10-month-old daughter Amal Mohamed Mustafa at the amnesty in Dubai

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  People wait to have their stay in the UAE legalised