Dubai: More than 32,800 residence visa violators have applied for amnesty at Amer centres in Dubai, including 165 people from war-torn countries, a top official said on Saturday.
Amer centres in Dubai are providing amnesty against fines and changing the status from illegal to legal resident under a UAE-wide amnesty, which started on August 1 and will end on October 31.
In a statement on Saturday, Major General Mohammad Ahmad Al Merri, Director-General of the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA) Dubai, said: “About 165 people of war-torn or political conflict[-affected] countries benefited from the amnesty order. The UAE cabinet order to grant one year residency to them without paying fines was a chance for them to have a better, decent life.
Meanwhile, Al Awir centre is providing amnesty for people willing to have their fines waived before leaving the country.
According to official figures, Amer centres changed the status for 7,757 people who were staying illegally in the country since the beginning of the amnesty. About 2,344 people applied for visa cancellations, 2,916 applied to renew their visas and 25,086 modified their residency status with new sponsors.
Amnesty seekers paid a Dh521 fee to change their status without paying fines.
Maj Gen Al Merri said that there are 47 Amer centres in Dubai (21 centres in Bur Dubai and 26 in Deira).
“The geographic distribution of Amer centres helps applicants reach the closest centre to them, cutting time and effort,” he added.
