Thousands of people with expired documents remain queuing up at centres across the country as they seek to legalise their stay in the UAE.
The two-month amnesty has sparked interest after the government said people who have overstayed their residence and visit visas would not be charged fines.
Families that have not applied for visas for children born in the UAE will also get a reprieve and can apply for the legal document as part of the amnesty that will run until October.
Christopher Kyeyunemr, 29, from Uganda, was one of the first people to obtain an exit pass after living illegally for the last two years.
He arrived in Dubai in November 2020 and worked as a cleaner and then as a security guard.
“My former company cancelled my work permit but I tried to find a new job. I tried to apply for a new visa but couldn’t,” Mr Kyeyunemr told The National.
As soon as he heard about the amnesty he bought his flight home and made sure he was first in the queue on Sunday morning. For residents whose fingerprints are already on the system, the process of getting an exit pass is instantaneous. For applicants who overstayed a visit visa and therefore did not register their fingerprints when entering the country, the process can take up to 48 hours.
“I booked my ticket home and came here at 7.30am for when the doors opened. I got my exit pass and am now going to Dubai Airport to catch my 10.30am flight,” he said.
The General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs centre in Al Awir has two tents, separating men and women. It can accommodate more than 2,000 people and has 26 counters for taking fingerprints.
One GDRFA official at the location told The National that they had waived fines for 100 people in the first 30 minutes of the day.
The penalty for remaining in the country on an expired visa is Dh50 ($13.6) per day for tourists or residents - meaning that many owe thousands, or tens of thousands, of dirhams.
Specified government offices throughout the Emirates opened on Sunday to handle queries and applications from people who want to change their status and remain in the country or seek an exit permit and leave.
The amnesty also covers those who have fled from their sponsors - but does not apply to people who entered the state illegally.
In Abu Dhabi, Federal Authority For Identity, Citizenship, Customs & Port Security (ICP) centres in Al Dhafra, Sweihan, Al Maqam and Al Shahamah, as well as typing centres recognised by the authority will process documents.
In Dubai, people can approach 86 Amer service centres across the emirate.
People who arrived in the UAE on a visit visa have been asked to approach the ICP centres listed above in Abu Dhabi or the Al Awir centre in Dubai.
This is because people arriving in the country do not get their fingerprints scanned – something the recommended centres are equipped to do, allowing for the completion of procedures.
“It is a chance for all violators to change their status in the country,” ICP chief Maj Gen Suhail Al Khaili said.
Open on weekends
Several embassies have said they will stay open on weekends over the next two months to handle the rush of people submitting requests to renew their passports. Valid passports or travel documents that confirm the person’s identity are required by amnesty applicants.
The Pakistan Embassy in Abu Dhabi and its consulate in Dubai will stay open every Saturday to cope with the increased numbers.
The Indian embassy in Abu Dhabi said applicants can walk into BLS centres in Al Reem, Mussaffah and Al Ain to apply for travel documents.
Those who wanted to return to India could obtain an emergency certificate from its consular office in Abu Dhabi at Guardian Tower, in Al Saadah Zone, from 4pm to 6pm. People who want to regularise their residency can apply for passports at the BLS centres in Al Reem, Musaffah and Al Ain, the embassy said.
The centres would operate every Sunday during the amnesty period from 9am to 5pm.
The amnesty is scheduled to end on October 21 but a previous one in 2018 that was to run for three months was extended by several weeks due to high demand.
More than 105,000 people then benefitted from the reprieve.
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
School uniforms report
Saudi National Day
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The five pillars of Islam
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Our commentary on Brexit
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• The National announces Future of News journalism competition
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Director: Dexter Fletcher
Starring: Taron Egerton, Richard Madden, Jamie Bell
Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
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AS IT STANDS IN POOL A
1. Japan - Played 3, Won 3, Points 14
2. Ireland - Played 3, Won 2, Lost 1, Points 11
3. Scotland - Played 2, Won 1, Lost 1, Points 5
Remaining fixtures
Scotland v Russia – Wednesday, 11.15am
Ireland v Samoa – Saturday, 2.45pm
Japan v Scotland – Sunday, 2.45pm
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The national orchestra
'Saand Ki Aankh'
Produced by: Reliance Entertainment with Chalk and Cheese Films
Director: Tushar Hiranandani
Cast: Taapsee Pannu, Bhumi Pednekar, Prakash Jha, Vineet Singh
Rating: 3.5/5 stars
U19 World Cup in South Africa
Group A: India, Japan, New Zealand, Sri Lanka
Group B: Australia, England, Nigeria, West Indies
Group C: Bangladesh, Pakistan, Scotland, Zimbabwe
Group D: Afghanistan, Canada, South Africa, UAE
UAE fixtures
Saturday, January 18, v Canada
Wednesday, January 22, v Afghanistan
Saturday, January 25, v South Africa
UAE squad
Aryan Lakra (captain), Vriitya Aravind, Deshan Chethyia, Mohammed Farazuddin, Jonathan Figy, Osama Hassan, Karthik Meiyappan, Rishabh Mukherjee, Ali Naseer, Wasi Shah, Alishan Sharafu, Sanchit Sharma, Kai Smith, Akasha Tahir, Ansh Tandon
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MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW
Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman
Director: Jesse Armstrong
Rating: 3.5/5
Asia Cup Qualifier
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UAE v Hong Kong
TV:
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Drishyam 2
Directed by: Jeethu Joseph
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Rating: 4 stars
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Director: Lee Isaac Chung
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In numbers: China in Dubai
The number of Chinese people living in Dubai: An estimated 200,000
Number of Chinese people in International City: Almost 50,000
Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2018/19: 120,000
Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2010: 20,000
Percentage increase in visitors in eight years: 500 per cent
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Engine: 2-litre turbocharged
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The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.
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Places to go for free coffee
- Cherish Cafe Dubai, Dubai Investment Park, are giving away free coffees all day.
- La Terrace, Four Points by Sheraton Bur Dubai, are serving their first 50 guests one coffee and four bite-sized cakes
- Wild & The Moon will be giving away a free espresso with every purchase on International Coffee Day
- Orange Wheels welcome parents are to sit, relax and enjoy goodies at ‘Café O’ along with a free coffee
Six large-scale objects on show
- Concrete wall and windows from the now demolished Robin Hood Gardens housing estate in Poplar
- The 17th Century Agra Colonnade, from the bathhouse of the fort of Agra in India
- A stagecloth for The Ballet Russes that is 10m high – the largest Picasso in the world
- Frank Lloyd Wright’s 1930s Kaufmann Office
- A full-scale Frankfurt Kitchen designed by Margarete Schütte-Lihotzky, which transformed kitchen design in the 20th century
- Torrijos Palace dome
Dust and sand storms compared
Sand storm
- Particle size: Larger, heavier sand grains
- Visibility: Often dramatic with thick "walls" of sand
- Duration: Short-lived, typically localised
- Travel distance: Limited
- Source: Open desert areas with strong winds
Dust storm
- Particle size: Much finer, lightweight particles
- Visibility: Hazy skies but less intense
- Duration: Can linger for days
- Travel distance: Long-range, up to thousands of kilometres
- Source: Can be carried from distant regions
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Our legal advisor
Ahmad El Sayed is Senior Associate at Charles Russell Speechlys, a law firm headquartered in London with offices in the UK, Europe, the Middle East and Hong Kong.
Experience: Commercial litigator who has assisted clients with overseas judgments before UAE courts. His specialties are cases related to banking, real estate, shareholder disputes, company liquidations and criminal matters as well as employment related litigation.
Education: Sagesse University, Beirut, Lebanon, in 2005.
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Engine: Duel electric motors
Power: 659hp
Torque: 1075Nm
On sale: Available for pre-order now
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National Editorial: Suleimani has been killed, now we must de-escalate
Mina Al Oraibi: Air strike casts a long shadow over the decade ahead
Jack Moore: Why the assassination is such a monumental gamble
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Starring: Sydney Elizebeth Agudong, Maia Kealoha, Chris Sanders
Director: Dean Fleischer Camp
Rating: 4.5/5
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Traits of Chinese zodiac animals
Tiger:independent, successful, volatile
Rat:witty, creative, charming
Ox:diligent, perseverent, conservative
Rabbit:gracious, considerate, sensitive
Dragon:prosperous, brave, rash
Snake:calm, thoughtful, stubborn
Horse:faithful, energetic, carefree
Sheep:easy-going, peacemaker, curious
Monkey:family-orientated, clever, playful
Rooster:honest, confident, pompous
Dog:loyal, kind, perfectionist
Boar:loving, tolerant, indulgent
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
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The national orchestra
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UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE FIXTURES
All kick-off times 10.45pm UAE ( 4 GMT) unless stated
Tuesday
Sevilla v Maribor
Spartak Moscow v Liverpool
Manchester City v Shakhtar Donetsk
Napoli v Feyenoord
Besiktas v RB Leipzig
Monaco v Porto
Apoel Nicosia v Tottenham Hotspur
Borussia Dortmund v Real Madrid
Wednesday
Basel v Benfica
CSKA Moscow Manchester United
Paris Saint-Germain v Bayern Munich
Anderlecht v Celtic
Qarabag v Roma (8pm)
Atletico Madrid v Chelsea
Juventus v Olympiakos
Sporting Lisbon v Barcelona
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Tomorrow 2021
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SHAITTAN
The specs
THREE
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
UK-EU trade at a glance
EU fishing vessels guaranteed access to UK waters for 12 years
Co-operation on security initiatives and procurement of defence products
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Smoother border management with use of e-gates
Cutting red tape on import and export of food
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Gavin Esler: Coronavirus offers stinging rebuke to protectionists
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