Dubai: The UAE's visa amnesty scheme has witnessed an overwhelming response, with thousands of illegal residents rushing to legalize their status in Dubai on day one. The initiative, which began on Sunday, offers a unique opportunity for violators of residency laws to regularize their status without facing legal penalties.
Overwhelming response
The amnesty centers in Dubai, including the 86 Amer centers and the special tents at the GDRFA Al Awir center, were inundated with applicants on the first day. More than 1,000 individuals completed the procedures to legalize their residency status, including those who had overstayed their resident or visit visas.
Lieutenant General Mohamed Ahmed Al Marri, Director General of the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA) anticipates that the number of people seeking to legalize their status will continue to increase as word spreads about the opportunity.
Humanitarian effort
He stated that the initiative aims to provide a second chance for illegal residents and support their families.
“It was a weekend. Still, we started at 7 am yesterday and people were here till 8 pm and we finished by 9 pm,” he said at the Al Awir centre.
“This is not a tent this is a centre of hope for people. They might be illegal residents but they are also human beings and the UAE being a country of tolerance and happiness, we want to try and help them start their lives afresh once again and support their families. We are happy to see them go back with a smile on their faces.”
Job opportunities
To further assist those who have successfully regularized their residency, GDRFA has requested companies and diplomatic missions to offer employment opportunities. The Al Awir Center is hosting on-the-spot job interviews with around 15 companies, providing a range of job options for both professionals and blue-collar workers.
“We are happy to facilitate on-the-spot job interviews and recruitment by around 15 companies here at the Al Awir centre. They are big companies hiring both professionals and blue-collar workers. It is better for them also to employ people with Dubai experience,” he pointed out.
Source: Gulf News