Dubai records increase in number of visit visa violations

Dubai, Apr 1 (UNI) Dubai has reported a 34 per cent increase in visit visa violations as compared to last year's figures as the number of expatriates who are working here illegally increased.

A Dubai Naturalisation and Residency Department (DNRD) official said there is currently no automatic mechanism to catch visitors using expired visas or those working illegally.

The law prohibits visit visa holders from working, whether with wages or without them, and they are generally caught and fined only at the time of their departure.

The official said inspection campaigns by immigration authorities would be intensified in co-ordination with government departments to catch law violaters.

Dubai courts had last year handled 100 cases of visitors who were caught working while on a visit visa. In 2005, the courts handled 70 such cases, he said.

The number of companies caught breaking the law last year had gone upto 96 from 80, the official added.

UNI