When Indian expatriate Mohammed arrived in Dubai over a year ago, his aspiration was to earn sufficient funds to construct a home in his native town. Nonetheless, a sequence of events left him undocumented in the country. Presently, he possesses an outpass and is set to return home on Tuesday to meet his daughter for the first time. "I am beyond words with joy," Mohammed expressed to Khaleej Times. "I secured my outpass on Monday and promptly booked my flight for Tuesday. All I yearn for is to embrace my daughter and breathe in her scent. My wife was expecting when I departed India, and now my daughter is a year old. I've only ever seen her on a screen. I missed her initial steps, her first roll, every milestone."
Mohammed is among the beneficiaries of the two-month amnesty declared by the UAE government, which offers thousands of undocumented residents the opportunity to legalize their status. Currently, those residing illegally in the country have the option to depart without facing penalties or convert their visa to a residency visa if they secure employment. Betrayed by a friend, Mohammed returned to the UAE after a decade in Dubai, lured by a friend's promise. "I had lent him money prior to leaving and he vowed to include me as a partner in his new venture," he recounted. "Upon my arrival, I realized the company was in distress and I sought employment. Just days before my visa's expiration, I found a job, yet he urged me to join his company, aware of my desire to purchase land."
However, the business soon faced financial hardships and Mohammed accrued a significant overstay fine. "I toiled relentlessly for the company for over eight months," he stated. "I sensed the venture was off track but never anticipated such dire straits. The most painful moment was when my friend cut off contact. He was my childhood companion and I believe he meant well, yet circumstances unfolded this way. Upon hearing of the amnesty, I felt a tremendous weight lifted from my shoulders."
Filipino expat A.C., who worked as a waitress, found herself in a similar predicament when her employer absconded. "I had been in the country for just a year and was at a loss," she shared. "Initially, I relied on friends for shelter and took on odd jobs, but I knew this was unsustainable. In August, I sought to reduce my fines through the immigration office via a typing centre to facilitate my return home, but received no response. Shortly thereafter, I learned of the amnesty."
With all her documents intact, A.C. obtained her outpass through an Amer centre on Monday. "I've scheduled my flight to Manila for September 14, as I have two weeks to depart," she noted. "I am immensely thankful to be returning home to my family. It's been nearly two years since I last saw them. Yet, before leaving, I am pursuing job interviews in hopes of securing employment to return. I am praying that it comes to fruition."
