ABU DHABI: The Ministry of Interior (MoI) announced the number of violators of the Law of Entry and Residence who voluntarily applied to benefit from the deadline granted by the state until Jan.2.

A total of 20,391 violators from 106 countries applied until Jan.2 throughout the state.

Moreover, 9,543 violators have already departed from the country since the beginning of the grace period on Dec.4, according to Brigadier Dr Abdullah Ali Bin Sahoo, director general of Residency and Foreigners Affairs in Sharjah, and chairman of the Media Committee. Brigadier Bin Sahoo indicated that individuals who have already left the country took advantage of the deadline, which ends in the first week of February. He called on all violators to voluntarily come forward to the nearest centre allocated by the MoI to benefit from the grace period granted by the government.

Public urged to cooperate

He invited citizens and residents to cooperate with the committee to encourage offenders to take advantage of this opportunity and leave the country without paying the accumulated penalties imposed on them for violating the law of entry and residence of foreigners.

He also underscored the importance of media outlets, TV, print and radio in the state and in multiple languages to acquaint the public with the deadline. He lauded the role of the media through the active cooperation in the service of society.