In Dubai, seeking employment while on a visiting visa may become tougher as officials are preparing to strengthen monitoring, Arab media reports said. Deportation is an almost certain consequence for any foreigner found working on a visit visa.
Crackdowns targeting foreign nationals overstaying their visas and travel agents are imminent across Dubai as the authorities want a clean-up in the job sector, the reports suggest. While it is illegal to work in the UAE while on a visiting visa, the practice has been widespread in the country.
The UAE in August 2024 amended its labour laws to impose heavy fines on companies illegally hiring foreign nationals sans proper permits. Firms were warned that they would be penalised up to 1 million UAE Dirhams if found bringing in "cheap labour" into the country by breaking rules.
Law enforcement teams have been raiding the premises of big firms in the private sector to ensure they have not employed international workers with expired visas or those on visit visas. Front offices of travel agencies are also being regularly visited by inspection units in the hope of identifying rule-breakers in recent months, people associated with the sector told Khaleej Times.
The crackdown is looked at as the next stage of a well-thought-out plan to end visa overstay in the country. The UAE had reportedly run a visa amnesty programme from September to December 2024, helping people overstaying their visit visas to either legalise their status or leave the country without paying any penalties. The programme was a grand success as reports suggest that those overstaying visit visas in UAE got reduced to less than 10 per cent by January 2025.
After the deadline expired, at least 6,000 people were identified and dealt with, Khaleej Times said. For tourists, it is now mandatory to have hotel reservations, confirmed air tickets and a certain amount in their bank accounts to enter the country. The further toughening of the rules is seen as the next stage of the government initiative to end illegal employment and visa overstay.
