6,000 overstayers arrested in January in 270 round-ups in UAE, 93% deported

The Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP) conducted approximately 270 inspection campaigns across the country during January 2025, operating under the banner of 'Towards a Safer Society'. These campaigns were initiated with the objective of identifying and penalising individuals in violation of the Entry Codes and Foreigners Affairs Law.

This came within the ICP's strategic initiative aimed at enhancing compliance with legal and legislative frameworks pertaining to the residence and affairs of foreign individuals. This initiative was initiated subsequent to the conclusion of the deadline for the rectification of status for those who had violated the established regulations during the period spanning from September 1 to December 31, 2024.

Major General Suhail Saeed Al Khaili, Director General of the ICP, stated that the UAE's prudent leadership is committed to ensuring a secure and prosperous legal life for all residents and those seeking to work or reside in the UAE. This commitment is underpinned by the provision of proactive services that anticipate customer needs, along with strict compliance with laws and regulations governing residency. These measures contribute significantly to maintaining societal stability and security.

He stated that the Authority's inspection campaigns in January 2025 led to the arrest of around 6,000 overstayers, with the deportation procedures for 93% of those arrested being successfully completed.

The implementation of a four-month grace period, initiated on 1 September 2024 and concluding on 31 December 2024, came to provide a comprehensive opportunity for overstayers to rectify their status, either by exiting the country without have a ban stamp or by obtaining a new work contract and remaining within the country. The efficacy of this measure is evidenced by the substantial number of violators who successfully rectified their status across the country. In continuation of the ICP's plan in this area, the relevant work teams carried out intensive inspection campaigns to arrest overstayers in their locations in all emirates, and to take the necessary legal measures against those violators who were apprehended.

Al Khaili pointed out that the inspection campaigns on overstayers are a key part of consolidating a culture of commitment to laws, legislation and human rights principles among members of society. These campaigns also enhance the institutional and legal identity of the UAE, considering these principles and culture as civil. These values are the foundation of the country's leadership and competitiveness regionally and globally. They also confront the social, security and economic challenges that may result from violating the law on the entry and residence of foreigners and its complementary decisions.

Major General Saeed Salem Balhas Al Shamsi, Acting Director General of Identity and Foreigners Affairs at the ICP, said that the inspection campaigns are meticulously executed in cooperation with the relevant government department. These inspections are conducted in the locations of violators across the country, where the prescribed legal procedures are rigorously followed and fines are imposed on those caught and those who shelter or employ them. He emphasised that there will be zero tolerance for overstayers, and the law will be strictly enforced on both the violator and those who shelter or employ him.

He further stressed that the Entry and Residence Law endows the ICP with the prerogative to oversee foreigners who enter the country on entry visas and fail to depart within the stipulated period, as well as foreigners whose residence or temporary work permits have expired and have not been renewed or amended within the designated timeframe. Furthermore, the ICP is empowered to initiate legal proceedings and impose the prescribed fines on individuals who provide shelter or employment to those who violate the terms of their stay.

He also noted that the law endowed the ICP with the prerogative to discontinue the issuance of visas to the employer or the entity hosting the foreign national, in the event that it is substantiated that the individual has not adhered to the stipulated regulations governing the entry of foreign nationals.

Al Shamsi explained that the Law allows the ICP to undertake inspection campaigns on overstayers, as the law delineated categories of violators, most notably those who employ foreigners without a permit to do so, especially those brought by a contracting party or a guarantor of the foreigner in violation of the prevailing laws and regulations. This includes individuals who employ foreigners without the requisite permit, those who facilitate the employment of foreigners without adhering to the established contractual framework, and those who engage in any of the activities proscribed by the law and its associated regulations.

The law stipulates that any individual who provides assistance, participates in, or facilitates a foreigner's violation of the provisions of the law shall be subject to imprisonment and a fine of no less than Dhs10,000.

Furthermore, in the event that the offender is employed by a party without the latter being their sponsor, a fine of Dhs50,000 shall be imposed on the employer. Furthermore, in the event that the aforementioned violator is apprehended whilst engaged in employment with an employer other than their sponsor, they shall be subjected to incarceration and a judicial ruling shall be issued against them for both imprisonment and deportation, with the individual being prohibited from re-entry to the country.