Dubai's Centre for Harboring supports nearly 11,700 residency violators in 2026

Dubai's immigration authority said on Tuesday that nearly 11,700 residency violators were accommodated during the first half of 2026 at a specialized center that provides healthcare, social support and travel assistance before residents return home.

How many residency violators has Dubai's Centre for Harboring supported?

Dubai's General Directorate of Identity and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA) accommodated 11,696 residency violators at its Centre for Harboring during the first half of 2026. The center provided medical exams, meals, travel documents and airline tickets to residents as they completed procedures to return home.

The figures were released during a media briefing and tour of GDRFA Dubai's Centre for Harboring. Officials said the facility reflects the UAE's approach of enforcing immigration laws while preserving the dignity of people who have overstayed visas or violated residency regulations, Gulf News reported.

What did GDRFA officials say about the center?

Speaking to journalists on July 29 at the Violators and Foreigners Follow-Up Sector, GDRFA Director General Lt. Gen. Mohammed Ahmed Al Marri said the center supports residents while they complete legal procedures before departing the UAE. "We are in the UAE and we are taking care of the human," he said. "We are not a jail, we are a place where the people can rethink again what to do with their future."

Courtesy: Gulf News

Al Marri said many residents arriving at the center had been deceived before travelling to the UAE. "They got cheated back home," he said, adding that it was not their fault but that they had met the wrong people in their country. He said GDRFA remained open to improving its services and welcomed any suggestions.

What services does the Centre for Harboring provide to residency violators?

The Centre for Harboring operates under the Violators and Foreigners Follow-Up Sector. It offers temporary accommodation alongside medical care, social and humanitarian support, travel arrangements and ticket booking, personal care and hygiene services, and recreational programs.

Staff also coordinate with embassies to obtain travel documents, safeguard residents' valuables and provide meal services. During the first six months of 2026, the center carried out 11,696 initial health examinations, facilitated 1,906 specialist medical visits, served 322,232 meals, processed 4,568 travel documents through consulates and issued 11,696 travel tickets to residents after they completed the required procedures.

What facilities did journalists see during the center tour?

Journalists toured the on-site Al Tadawi Medical Centre, which includes a children's play area, a pediatric room and a nursing station. The facility also houses a dental clinic, consultation rooms, obstetrics and gynecology services, an X-ray unit, a physiotherapy room, a treatment room and a pharmacy.

The tour also covered the reception area for newly admitted residents, a hairdressing salon, safe deposit facilities and locker rooms.

Does GDRFA treat all residency violators the same regardless of nationality?

Responding to questions, Al Marri said all residents receive equal treatment regardless of nationality. "Whatever he faces regarding residency, without any doubt, we will treat him as a guest," he said. "We don't have any problem with anyone. In the end, all of us are humans. We treat all nationalities the same, everybody is the same."

GDRFA Dubai said the center aims to provide essential care and services while helping residency violators return home with dignity after completing immigration procedures.