Dubai: Farm owners in Dubai will be given two-year grace period to register their farms and farmers at the Dubai Residency Department, said a senior official.
Major General Mohammad Ahmad Al Merri, Director General of the Dubai General Department for Residency and Foreigners Affairs told Gulf News that all farm owners in Dubai must register their farms at the residency department and be registered under the Firm/Establishment System.
Firm cards
All farms in Dubai must also obtain Firm/establishment cards before February 2012. "Farms will be allowed for a specific number of workers, which will be decided by the department," he said.
Major General Al Merri continued that this is part of the Emirate's efforts to overcome illegal residents, who sometimes find a safe haven working on farms. "We are regulating the sponsorship of workers who work for farms in the Emirate. We want to be sure that all and everyone is [are] living legally here and we will work hard on it," he said.
This is part of a campaign under the slogan "Badir" service or to "take initiative" to help overcome the problem of illegal immigrants in the country.
"[The] Badir service is in cooperation with Dubai Police's Al Ameen serviceand the Criminal and Investigation Department at the police," he said.
He said this campaign will last for two years. "We have to know how many farms are there and how many workers are working for any farm," he said.
Major General Al Merri said that the aim of the campaign is the safety and security of the country.
The department yesterday opened a new service centre in the Al Lisaili area, offering residents all residency and naturalisation services.
