Errant visitor to pay Dh2,000 for first day and Dh30 for each remaining day
Visitors to Dubai who overstay their visa will have to dig deep into their pockets when exiting the country as authorities are taking steps to dramatically increase fines.
The Dubai Department for Naturalisation and Residency (DNRD) has been looking at revising the fines for overstaying visit visas upwards by as much as 900 per cent as part of a wider move to enforce immigration rules.
A source from DNRD told Emirates Today that a visitor who overstays his or her visa would have to pay Dh2,000 on the first day and Dh30 for each of the subsequent days they remained in the country.
Under the existing rule, Dh200 is charged for the first day overstayed on a visit visa and Dh100 for each of the subsequent days.
Another senior official at the naturalisation department confirmed the planned changes but declined to comment on the charges.
"It is too early for me to talk about this. An official announcement will be made," he said.
The officials also did not reveal when the new fine will be put in place.
However, several tour companies have expressed concern that some visitors who overstayed by a short period might be forced to become illegal employees in order to afford the new fine.
"Not everyone who overstays for a single day will be able to afford to pay Dh2,000.
We might see many people on visit visas turning into illegals because they cannot afford to pay their way out of the country," said Rahman Asad, 34, manager for Al Falak Tours and Travel, which also arranges visas for visitors.
Asad said he has been warning all of his clients to be aware of the imminent changes, lest they get into trouble.
Under the amnesty granted by the UAE Government in June this year, more than 200,000 illegal residents have left the country.
Crackdowns against remaining illegal residents, who chose to stay after the amnesty period, have already begun as authorities strive to enforce immigration laws.
By Ashaba Abdul K Basti
Emirates Today 2007
