Dubai has handed down convictions to 21 individuals of various nationalities and Dhs 25.21 million in fines in a major visa fraud case, one of the largest of its kind in the emirate. The ruling was issued by the Dubai Citizenship and Residency Court, following an in-depth investigation led by the Citizenship and Residency Prosecution.
The individuals were found guilty of setting up fake commercial establishments to exploit the UAE’s residence visa system. These companies, which had no real operations or offices, were created solely to unlawfully obtain visas, often abruptly closing without adjusting the status of recruited workers, leaving many in limbo.
The case was triggered by the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs in Dubai, which flagged suspicious company registrations. Investigations revealed 385 residency visas were misused across 33 fake companies, most of which used fictitious addresses to bypass UAE residency and labour laws.
Officials highlighted that Dubai remains firm in protecting the integrity of its legal and residency systems, in close cooperation with relevant authorities. To remain updated on the legal requirements of the residence visa system or to report any violations, you can contact the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs through their website.