UAE: Don't work on visit visas, travel agents warn as crackdown intensifies
Dubai authorities have ramped up efforts to crack down on individuals working on visit visas in the emirate, travel agents claimed. According to them, this has led to a noticeable reduction in the number of people overstaying in the country.
'We've heard of multiple company premises being inspected recently,' claimed Safeer Mohammed, general manager of Smart Travels. 'Inspection teams have also visited our office tower several times over the past few months. While working on a visit visa has always been illegal, the authorities are now ensuring that everyone is strictly following the rules.'
This follows the end of a generous amnesty scheme, one of the country's most lenient, which allowed those overstaying their visit visas to either legalise their status or leave without facing penalties.
The programme, which ran from September to December 2024, helped thousands resolve their visa issues. Following the end of the visa amnesty, more than 6,000 violators were arrested during inspection campaigns in January, a top official revealed.
Safeer highlighted that these measures have played a key role in reducing the number of visit visa overstayers by more than half. 'Since January, we've seen the number of people overstaying their visit visas reduced to less than 10 per cent,' he said.
Bharat Aidasani of Pluto Travels emphasised that it has always been illegal to work on a visit visa in the UAE. 'We strictly advise our customers not to do so,' he said. 'Since the end of the amnesty, inspections have become more frequent, and the penalties are severe, with deportation being the consequence for anyone caught working on a visit visa.'
In August of last year, the UAE amended its labour law to impose hefty fines ranging from Dh100,000 to Dh1 million on companies that employ workers without the proper permits or bring them into the country without securing jobs for them.
Noushad Hassan from Alhind Travels Business Centre also shared that several companies have been inspected since the amnesty ended. 'We've heard of several companies being checked to ensure no one on a visit visa is working there,' he said.
'It is a great way to ensure that rules are being followed. We have also seen a steady decrease in the number of people overstaying their visit visa so it is really having a positive impact," Noushad added.
He also noted that some workers had previously found themselves stranded after overstaying their visas. 'They would contact us asking for assistance to return home,' he said. 'Now, companies in Dubai cannot renew visit visas without the workers physically returning home. With the increased inspections, it will be much harder for unscrupulous companies to take advantage of workers.'
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