18,000 illegal residents obtain outpasses

Dubai: More than 18,000 illegal residents in Dubai have already obtained outpasses and benefited from the amnesty, said a senior official.

"Since the first day of the amnesty period, almost 18,000 residents of different nationalities, mostly Asians, have applied and already obtained outpasses. Most of them are preparing to leave while some others have already left Dubai," said Brigadier Mohammad Al Merri, Director-General of the Dubai Naturalisation and Residency Department (DNRD) yesterday.

"Most of the 18,000 offenders, who violated the residency law, are of Asian nationalities. Those who illegally stayed in the country after their visit visas expired topped the list of those offenders, followed by those who did not renew their residency visa and finally those who infiltrated to the country. The amnesty applies to all violators regardless of their nationalities including Asians, Africans, Europeans, Americans or Arabs," said Brigadier Al Merri.

"I expect the number of applicants to increase by the end of the two month amnesty period," he said.

Meanwhile Gulf News interviewed a cross section of residents who praised the amnesty process saying that it is going swiftly and successfully as DNRD officials are giving them all a hand. Jorge A., a 48-year-old man from Lebanon said he has been staying illegally in the country for many years.

"I used to work here in a shop in Dubai. I was planning to go back to my country but I am earning good money here. Now I will go home but I will return again as a legal resident," he said.

He praised the easy-going and swift procedures at the DNRD when he applied for an outpass.

Transfer

Khan, a Bangladeshi illegal resident said he lost his passport seven years ago in Abu Dhabi and he does not have any documents and does not know the name of his old sponsor "but DNRD officials assisted me in tracing my old sponsor." He is expecting a sponsorship transfer to be able to continue working as a painter.

Al Merri said the amnesty process is going smoothly. He warned that this will be the last amnesty anda jail sentence and a fine of more than Dh100,000 await those who will ignore the amnesty grace period. Brigadier Al Merri explained that Thursdays will be reserved for women at the DNRD counters to apply for outpasses.