The Ministry of Interior declared a two-month deadline for the Entry and Residency law Violators to leave the country. The deadline spans between December 4th and February 4th, according to the ministerial decree 249/5/119 for 2012.
In a press conference he held on Tuesday morning, Major General Nasser Al Awadhi Al Menhali, Assistant Undersecretary for Naturalization, Residency and Ports indicated a two-week campaign through the various mass media to encourage offenders to leave the country. He noted that offenders who voluntarily proceed to the Residency and Foreigners’ Affairs centers will be exempted from fines and penalties applied, as per the Law of Entry and Residency.
Al Menhali indicated that the Residency and Foreigners’ Affairs centers will receive offenders in two shifts, morning and evening; adding that extra staff and equipment will be provided at these centers to ensure a fast completion of departure procedures.
“Such centers will be designated by all Residency and Foreigners’ Affairs General Directors in the state, who will explain the appropriate work mechanisms,” he continued.
Major General Al Menhali emphasized the need for offenders to leverage this opportunity by calling the toll free number 8005111 at the Dubai call center, to inquire about any additional information. Moreover, he noted that a central call center will soon be created in Abu Dhabi; calling for concerted efforts to curb this kind of violations.
“The media campaign will be implemented in collaboration with the various mass media; moreover, awareness publications and brochures will be distributed in public areas and shopping centers, to identify the campaign and its objectives,” he concluded.
The press conference was attended by Brigadier Ghareeb Mohammed Al Hosani, Director General of the Ports and Airports Security Department; Colonel Bakhit Saeed Al Suwaidi, Director, Office of the Assistant Undersecretary of Residency and Foreigners’ Affairs and by Colonel Ahmed Sultan Al Khodr, Director General of the Residency Violators and Foreigners Follow-up Department.