More than 6,000 visa violators have been arrested in the United Arab Emirates as authorities intensified inspections following the expiration of the amnesty scheme on 31 December.
A senior official said on Monday (3 February) that over 270 inspection campaigns had been conducted as part of a rigorous enforcement drive, reports Khaleej Times.
"Inspection campaigns will continue, so we advise the public not to take such violations or violators lightly," said Major-General Suhail Saeed Al Khaili, director-general of the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP).
The visa amnesty initiative commenced on 1 September and was initially set to conclude on 31 October.
However, authorities later extended the deadline by two months, allowing illegal residents to regularise their status until 31 December 2024.
Ahead of the scheme’s conclusion, officials repeatedly urged undocumented residents to take advantage of the amnesty, warning that failure to comply would result in intensified inspection campaigns and stringent measures against offenders.
