Dubai to reward 'ideal faces' — Do you qualify?

As the two-month UAE residency amnesty scheme draws to a close, the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA) in Dubai has announced a new program to reward the ideal residents, in addition to Emirati sponsors of ideal residents.

The reward program, titled "The Ideal Face", will start at the beginning of November 2024. It aims to give special priority to residents who have not breached visa and residency laws for the past 10 years. It also rewards Emiratis who sponsor foreign residents with the same record.

This gesture is meant to encourage UAE residents and citizens who sponsor expat residents to abide to local visa rules, and to celebrate positive behavior by both segments. According to the announcement made by Dubai's GDRFA, "Ideal Face" residents reflect the UAE values.

Ideal Face eligibility

1. Dubai residents who have lived legally in the emirate for the past 10 years, whether on work visas or through sponsors, are eligible, along with their Emirati sponsors, provided they have renewed their visas and Emirates IDs on time.

2. Eligible individuals must have a clean visa record, with no residency bans, renewal delays, or fines.

3. Residents who have resolved visa issues through fines or amnesty programs in the past 10 years are NOT eligible for the reward program.

How to apply?

Individuals who believe they qualify to the Ideal Face program are encouraged to sign an "obligation certificate" on the GDRFA-Dubai's official website.

Rewards and benefits

Individuals who receive the Ideal Face award will enjoy:

1. Queue priority when renewing the residency visa or when calling Amer Centers

2. Special counters at Amer centers for fast-tracking visa processes.

3. Priority for Amer call centre requests.

4. Home services for visa requirements for the elderly.

UAE visa amnesty scheme

During September and October 2024, the UAE government has been rolling out an amnesty scheme for illegal residents, encouraging them to rectify their visa status for no bans, fines, or exit fees, if they apply for it by October 31.

According to Gulf Today, 19,772 individuals were able to correct their visa status during the first 24 days of the amnesty program, while 7,401 departure permits were issued for individuals who expressed the desire to go home.