Dubai: Fewer cases of maids running away from their sponsors were reported in the emirate last year compared with 2012, said a top Ministry of Interior official.
The number of cases dropped by 28.3 per cent compared with 2012.
Major General Mohammad Ahmad Al Merri, Director-General of the General Directorate for Residency and Foreigners Affairs in Dubai (GDRFA), said on Wednesday the decrease was due to awareness campaigns regarding the dangers of employing housemaids not on their sponsorship. Maids are now more likely to stay with their employer than risk not getting hired illegally elsewhere.
“We are sending people warning messages via their mobile phones about the crimes that could happen in their homes if they illegally hire housemaids,” he said.
He said people are also told that employing illegal maids will result in a Dh50,000 fine, while maids are aware that absconding will land them in jail with a deportation order and a life ban.
He said the number of cases had also dropped because domestic helpers can easily approach the department to complain against their sponsors in case of any dispute.
However, he did not state the number of domestic helpers reported to have absconded in the past two years.
At a press conference held at the GDRFA’s headquarters, Major General Al Merri said that 57,248,688 transactions were issued by the GDRFA in Dubai last year compared with 49,977,634 in 2012, a 14.5 per cent increase.
He said in 2013 the GDRFA issued 3,175,905 residency-related transactions, including issuing and cancelling residency visas, compared with 2,385,992 in 2012, a 33.1 per cent increase.
He added the number of residency visas issued in 2013 was 11,637,000.
“The number of fake travel documents and passports seized at Dubai airport in 2013 reached 1,000 documents and their holders were deported immediately,” he added.
He said the GDRFA also sent 249,605 messages to the public via mobile phones to remind them to renew their passports or visas. Out of this number 200,000 messages were sent to expatriates to renew their residency visas last year.
“The GDRFA external centre at Terminal 3, which receives applications round the clock, seven days a week, last year issued 400,400 entry permits and 36,038 residency visas. There were 1,887 cases involving follow-up on illegals,” he said.
He said that there were 25 GDRFA centres in various areas of Dubai.
Major General Al Merri added the public can use their ID cards, passports or their e-Gate cards to use the fast-track smart Gates at Terminal 3 arrivals at Dubai airport.
“We are going to install more smart gates at Terminal 1 and 2 at arrivals only,” he said.
“Maybe in the coming future smart gates will also be installed at departures,” he said.
He explained that many flights landed at the same time, which required a fast entry system for arrivals.
He said more than five million passengers used the smart gate and the e-Gate system last year.
Major General Al Merri added the new Hatta land border was ready and will be opened to the public in a month or two.
“It is equipped with technology to speed up passenger and vehicle movement at this busy entry point,” he said.
Major General Al Merri said all typing centres will be directly linked with the GDRFA system to avoid any mistake that may happen when typing transactions, especially for names that are similar.
