For Pakistani expatriate Hamza Gul, August 31 was the longest night as he waited outside the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA) - Dubai center in Al Awir. He lay on a bedsheet spread on the ground beneath a tree, with his suitcase as his only companion.

For Gul, the first light of September 1 marks not just the beginning of a new day but a new chapter in his life, as the UAE's amnesty program finally gives him a chance to regularize his status and return home after months of hardship. Gul considers September 1 his luckiest date. "It was on September 1 last year that I arrived in the UAE, brimming with hope for a better future. Now, exactly one year later, I hope to escape this nightmare," said the 25-year-old.

Once a cleaner in Dubai, Gul's life took a drastic turn four months ago when he lost his job. With no savings and nowhere to stay, he relied on the generosity of friends for a few days and spent many nights on the streets. "This isn't my first night on the street. I've been staying at friends' places whenever possible, and when that wasn't an option, I slept on the roads," Gul recounted.

After losing his job, Gul desperately sought employment and turned to an agent who promised him a new job. "The agent asked for Dh600 in fees, assuring me that my visa was still valid and that I could stay in the UAE legally. But this assurance turned out to be a lie," Gul explained. A few months later, he discovered that his visa had been cancelled, leaving him an illegal resident in the country.

"The agent kept giving me false hope, and I realized too late that my visa had been cancelled," Gul said. "I've been wandering from place to place just to survive. It's been a tough journey."

Despite the significant challenges he faced, Gul is determined to seize the opportunity the UAE amnesty offers. As he sits outside the GDRFA, he reflects on the significance of this moment. "This one night was very long. It kept reminding me of the struggles since I lost my job," he said. The first thing he plans to do when the amnesty tent opens in the morning is to secure an exit permit to return to Pakistan.

However, returning home presents its own challenges for Gul. "I borrowed money from people back in Pakistan to come to the UAE, and my creditors are waiting for my return. They expect me to arrive in Pakistan to repay them. I don't have anything left to repay. I've repaid as much as I could," Gul explained.

Despite the amnesty opportunity, Gul is burdened by the lack of financial means to make the journey back home. Amidst these difficulties, he remains hopeful. "I don't have the money to return to Pakistan, but I'm holding onto the hope that things will improve," Gul said. "I believe that somehow I will find a way to make it back home and rebuild my life."