A senior official from the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA) has urged illegal residents in the UAE to take advantage of the ongoing visa amnesty, which concludes on December 31, Khaleej Times reported.

This initiative, set to end on October 31, was extended to allow more time for overstayers to regularize their status or return to their home countries without penalties.

Lieutenant General Mohammed Ahmed Al Marri, Director General of the GDRFA, emphasized the urgency of the situation, stating, “The amnesty is going to end, and overstayers who have not yet regularized their status should utilize the remaining time of the grace period to rectify their residency violations.”

Major General Salah Al Qamzi, assistant director general of the Violators and Foreigners Follow-up Sector, warned that intensified inspection campaigns and strict measures will be implemented against those who do not take advantage of the opportunity. “We are committed to enforcing laws with full transparency and fairness,” he said.

Al Marri also called for community support to raise awareness about the amnesty program, noting that many illegal residents have benefited from it and secured jobs.

“There are people who still come to my office asking whether the amnesty is real. They should understand that we are here to help you.”

Highlighting the humanitarian aspect of the initiative, Al Marri shared stories of families who have received assistance, including individuals without passports who were connected to their embassies and sent home.

He also mentioned challenges faced by children lacking visas for vaccinations, noting that Dubai Health provided them with necessary care.

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Al Marri praised his team’s efforts in helping overstayers regularize their status or return home, urging communities to spread the message about the amnesty.

He concluded with a strong reminder: “It is our duty to make lives easy for others. People who do not avail of this amnesty will blame themselves in the future. With less than 15 days left, come, regularize your status, get rid of fines, and start a new life.”