Dubai cracks down on visit visa violations, say travel agents

Authorities in Dubai have intensified efforts to curb illegal employment among visit visa holders, a move that has significantly reduced overstays, according to travel industry experts, Khaleej Times reported.

“We’ve been hearing about multiple company inspections in recent weeks,” said 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 against the law, enforcement has become much stricter.”

The crackdown follows the conclusion of a lenient visa amnesty scheme that ran from September to December 2024, allowing overstayers to either regularize their status or exit the country without penalties. After the amnesty ended, over 6,000 individuals were arrested in inspection campaigns carried out in January, according to officials.

Safeer noted that the measures have been effective in reducing overstayers. “Since January, we’ve seen visit visa overstays drop to under 10 percent,” he added.

Bharat Aidasani of Pluto Travels emphasized that working on a visit visa has always been prohibited in the UAE. “We consistently advise our clients against it,” he said. “Since the amnesty period ended, inspections have increased, and penalties have become more severe, with deportation being the primary consequence for offenders.”

In August 2024, UAE authorities introduced amendments to labor laws imposing fines ranging from Dh100,000 to Dh1 million on businesses employing individuals without proper work permits or bringing workers into the country without securing jobs for them.

Noushad Hassan of Alhind Travels Business Centre confirmed that numerous companies have faced inspections following the amnesty’s conclusion. “Authorities are actively ensuring that no one is working on a visit visa,” he said. “This initiative is proving effective, as we are witnessing a consistent decline in the number of overstayers.”

He also highlighted the challenges faced by workers stranded after overstaying their visas. “Many are left without funds to book a return ticket or pay their overstay fines, while companies that hired them informally refuse to help,” he explained.

Recent policy changes now require tourists entering the UAE to provide proof of a return ticket, hotel booking, and sufficient funds in cash or a bank account. “With these stricter entry requirements and increased inspections, it will be much harder for unethical employers to exploit workers,” Noushad added.