A Dubai court has convicted 21 individuals of various nationalities for orchestrating a large-scale visa fraud, handing down fines amounting to AED 25.21 million. The Dubai Citizenship and Residency Court found them guilty of establishing fake companies to illegally secure residence visas for others.
According to a Khaleej Times report, citing authorities, the accused set up 33 bogus businesses, which were later used to obtain 385 residence visas. These companies were never operational and had addresses that turned out to be falsified. Once the visas were issued, the businesses were shut down, leaving workers without legal status.
The scheme came to light after the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA) flagged irregularities, prompting a detailed investigation by the Public Prosecution. Inspections confirmed the non-existence of the listed business locations, revealing a deliberate effort to exploit residency and labor laws.
“This case is among the largest involving fraudulent use of residence visas,” said Dr. Ali Humaid bin Khatem, Senior Advocate General and Head of the Citizenship and Residency Prosecution. He confirmed that a solid body of evidence was built before the defendants were brought to trial.
Dr. Bin Khatem emphasized that such violations threaten social stability and distort the labor market. “The Public Prosecution will continue to work closely with its partners to address any violations of laws governing the entry and residence of foreigners as well as labour regulations,” he stated.
