Residency visa scammers caught in Dubai: 21 convicted and Dh25m fine issued

It is one of the emirate's biggest residency visa fraud cases

More than 15,000 people who have overstayed their visas reached out to the Indian Consulate in Dubai for assistance during the UAE amnesty initiative. All photos: Consulate General of India, Dubai

According to official records, more than 5,500 people have availed of the visa amnesty programme at the Indian Consulate

The Indian Consulate has issued more than 3,200 outpasses and more than 2,000 short validity passports to enable those who have found a job to renew their UAE visas

Officials of the Sri Lankan Embassy help expats sort out their paper work

The Sri Lankan Consulate in Dubai has issued more than 1,400 outpasses allowing Sri Lankan nationals to leave the country without paying fines

More than 50,000 Bangladesh nationals have applied in government Amer centres to remain in the UAE, Bangladesh Consulate officials said

The Bangladeshi mission issued about 5,000 outpass documents

The UAE visa amnesty will end on December 31

Dubai’s Citizenship and Residency Court has imposed fines worth Dh25.2 million against 21 people convicted in one of the emirate’s largest residency visa fraud cases.

The suspects, of various nationalities, were found guilty of operating fraudulent companies to unlawfully obtain residency visas, which they later sold to 385 recipients.

The network exploited legal loopholes by setting up dummy businesses that existed only on paper and never functioned as legitimate employers.

Counsellor Ali Humaid bin Khatem, senior advocate general and director of Dubai’s Citizenship and Residency Prosecution, said it is one of the largest cases of misusing residency visas to exploit people.

Counsellor Ali Humaid bin Khatem, senior advocate general and director of Dubai’s Citizenship and Residency Prosecution. Photo: Ali Al Shouk

He said the investigation included 33 commercial establishments, which served as decoys for obtaining and misusing the visas.

“Most of the business licences under which the illegal establishments operated had been secured by furnishing fictitious addresses. The aim was to undermine and exploit residency and labour regulations for unlawful gain,” Mr bin Khatem said in a statement on Tuesday.

Officials from the General Directorate of Residency and Foreign Affairs in Dubai discovered the companies and reported them to the Dubai Public Prosecution.

“The arrests followed extensive monitoring, follow-ups and inspections of the companies’ purported offices,” Mr bin Khatem added.

Following their arrest, the suspects were referred to the prosecutors for investigation and evidence was gathered and submitted.

“The prosecutors will continue to work closely with its partners to address any violations of laws governing the entry and residence of foreigners as well as labour regulations in order to preserve the stability of society and the integrity of the labour market,” Mr bin Khatem said.