Authorities offer Dh500 for helping nab illegal residents

Dubai: Members of the public who help the authorities apprehend illegal residents will receive financial rewards, said a senior official at the Ministry of Interior.

Major General Nasser Bin Al Awadi Al Menhali, assistant undersecretary for naturalisation and residency and ports at the Ministry of Interior told Gulf News that people reporting illegal residents, including beggars, those overstaying their residency or visit visas and infiltrators, stand to gain Dh500. “This rules was applied a year ago all over the country,” he said.

Major General Al Menhali said the public could call the toll-free number 80080 in order to pass on information about illegal residents.

“We will take the contact number of the person who informs in order to communicate with him or her in case we arrest the illegal residents in order to hand the financial award to the informer,” he said.

He added that the ministry will ensure that people helping the authorities were contacted in a very confidential manner.

“We will check the credibility of the report and in case it is true the informer will immediately receive his or her financial reward,” he said.

He urged the public to work closely with the authorities to ensure the country was free of illegal residents and any security problems they could pose.

Major General Al Menhali said the ministry, at the same time, encouraged all efforts taken by illegal residents to legalise their residency in the country. “Our campaign against illegal residents will continue and we will be very tough and strict with those who decide to stay on illegally in the country,” he added.

He also warned of punitive action against people aiding illegal residents. Jail terms of not less than two months and a fine of Dh100,000 would apply to anyone found employing or harbouring infiltrators, he said. As the per the law, a fine of Dh50,000 will also be imposed on those who allow their employees to work for others without legal permission or those who employ an overstaying person, he added.

The official called on the public to ensure that their residency documents were always in order so that they were not in danger of violating the law.

The toll-free number for the public to report illegal residents is 80080.