As the UAE’s amnesty period for residency violators ends today, October 31, the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs, and Port Security (ICP) has announced strict penalties for employers hiring illegal residents, effective from November 1. In collaboration with Dubai’s General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA), the ICP has stated that companies found employing individuals without valid residency will face fines ranging from Dh100,000 to Dh1 million.
According to a Gulf News report, large-scale inspections of businesses will begin immediately on November 1, marking a heightened enforcement effort under a new federal decree law that aims to curb unregulated employment practices. The two-month amnesty, which started on September 1, provided an opportunity for residency violators to regularize their status, either by securing lawful employment or exiting the UAE without facing a re-entry ban.
Over recent weeks, amnesty centers across the UAE, including Al Aweer in Dubai, have reported a surge in visitors looking to resolve their residency issues. The ICP noted that the amnesty does not extend to individuals with deportation orders or unresolved criminal cases, nor to those marked as “absent from work” after September 1.
Once the grace period ends, violators who have not addressed their residency status will see fines reinstated, with added risks of entry bans and increased inspections in residential and business areas known for high violator concentrations. The ICP warns that employers hiring illegal residents will face rigorous checks and substantial financial penalties in the effort to uphold regulated labor practices across the UAE.
