UAE sets up 10 centres for residency amnesty

Ten centres have been launched across the UAE to allow residency violators to seek amnesty from prosecution.

The centres, set up by the Interior Ministry, aim to facilitate "smooth repatriation of the residency violators to their home countries" as part of the amnesty announced earlier this month, news agency WAM reported.

The Ministry of Interior said violators of the federal law on entry and residency of foreigners will have two months, starting from December 4, to leave the country voluntarily or face "the full force of the law".

The centres are located at EIDA registration centre in Musaffah, Abu Dhabi, the Directorate of Residency and Foreigner's Affairs in Al Ain, the Directorate of Residency and Foreigner's Affairs in the Western Region (Al Gharbia), the Violators and Foreigners Follow-up Section in Alaweer, Dubai, Department of Residency and Foreigners' Affairs in Sharjah, Naturalisation and Residency affairs Office in Khor Fakkan, Residency and Foreigners Affairs Directorate in Zazeerat-al-Hamra, Ras Al Kahimah, and the Residency and Foreigners Affairs Directorates each in Ajman, Umm Al Qaiwain and Fujairah.

Dr Abdullah Ali Saeed bin Sahoo, director of Sharjah Department of Residency and Foreigners Affairs, urged the violators to "benefit from this opportunity and leave the country without any legal actions against them".

Violators have also been urged to contact a call centre in Dubai on 8005111 for further information.