An Emirati and an Asian expatriate have been arrested in the UAE for illegally employing 12 foreign workers without the necessary permits. The pair have been fined a total of Dh600,000, while the workers themselves have each been ordered to pay Dh1,000 before being deported.
The arrests followed an extensive crackdown by the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs, and Port Security (ICP), which carried out 252 inspections across the country in February. The operation, conducted under the banner “Towards a Safer Society”, targeted breaches of the UAE’s Foreigners’ Entry and Residence Law and covered 4,771 establishments.
Lieutenant General Suhail Saeed Al Khaili, Director-General of ICP, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to enforcing immigration laws. “We are dedicated to upholding the law and ensuring compliance to protect the safety and stability of our society. At the same time, we guarantee the rights and dignity of all, including foreign workers, within the legal framework of the UAE,” he said.
The case has been referred to the judicial authorities, with further penalties expected. Under UAE law, those caught employing foreign workers without the correct permits face fines of Dh50,000 per violation, with higher penalties for repeat offences. Employers and individuals who harbour undocumented workers can also face prosecution, with deportation orders issued in certain cases.
(Source: GN)