Dubai’s Citizenship and Residency Court has imposed fines of Dh152,240,000 on 161 individuals found guilty of major visa and business-related violations.
According to authorities, the defendants shut down their businesses without regularising the residency status of sponsored workers. Investigations also revealed the unlawful trading and sale of entry permits for profit. Alongside the fines, the court ordered the deportation of all 161 individuals.
Officials said the ruling demonstrates Dubai’s strict enforcement of residency and labour regulations, stressing that misuse of visas or failure to comply with legal requirements carries severe consequences.
This case follows another high-profile ruling earlier this year, where 21 individuals were convicted for one of Dubai’s largest visa fraud schemes. The group had created 33 fake companies using fabricated addresses to obtain 385 residency visas, which were later sold. The court imposed fines of Dh25.2 million and ordered their deportation.
Under the UAE Labour Law (Federal Law No. 8 of 1980), employers are required to ensure that all sponsored employees have valid residency and work permits. Violations can lead to fines, business closure and deportation.
The General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs has repeatedly warned companies against visa trading and employing workers without proper status, noting that such measures are central to protecting employee rights and safeguarding the integrity of the country’s residency and labour systems.