The UAE’s visa amnesty programme, which commenced on September 1 and extends until December 31, has been a beacon of hope for numerous workers grappling with legal and personal challenges. For many overstayers, this initiative has offered a pathway to regularise their visa status, return home, and reconstruct their lives. Here are the narratives of three expatriates who discovered solace through the programme.
In February 2017, Karungi Caroline embarked on a journey to the UAE, brimming with optimism after securing a job as a maid. Initially, her life appeared idyllic—she relished her work and was treated well by her employers. However, her fortunes took a downturn when, after a year, she was unable to return home for her annual leave due to her missing passport. “I was elated to come to the UAE and work, but I never anticipated my joy would be so fleeting,” Caroline recounted, finding herself ensnared in the country with fines exceeding Dh80,000.
Despite fulfilling her two-year contract with her employer, Caroline’s visa renewal was thwarted without her passport. Her employer made several attempts to assist, but all were in vain. Caroline then sought aid from an agent, only to be defrauded. The agent absconded with her money. Feeling desolate, Caroline relocated to Dubai to live with friends, taking on odd jobs to subsist, earning as little as Dh500 to Dh700 monthly. “I was petrified and grappling daily,” she reminisced.
Her fate took a turn for the better when Omar Hussain, an Egyptian man, noticed her arduous efforts and offered her a place to stay and a job caring for his daughters, Roah and Hannah. “My daughters adore her and wished for her to stay with us,” Hussain stated.
Omar tirelessly worked to resolve Caroline’s legal predicaments, eventually garnering the support of the Ugandan consulate in Dubai after months of effort. With the necessary documents in hand, Omar escorted Caroline to the ICP centre in Abu Dhabi, where she obtained an outpass to return to her homeland and procure a new passport. On Monday night, Caroline flew back to Uganda with plans to return to the UAE shortly. “In three days, I will have my new passport and return to resume my work,” she expressed, her gratitude to the UAE’s amnesty programme profound for providing her a fresh beginning.
Hannah Njoki Njau arrived in the UAE in February 2019, her aspirations for a brighter future in tow. She commenced working as a nanny in Abu Dhabi, but after a year and a half, she departed her employer due to personal reasons—without her passport. “I stayed with a friend and secured another job,” she mentioned. However, Njau’s visa expired in February 2021, rendering her an illegal resident. Desperate to settle fines surpassing Dh50,000, she struggled to find stable employment. Eventually, she secured a nanny position in Sharjah, which enabled her to build a life despite her precarious status. “I was content with my employer, and they have endeavoured to help me regularise my status since 2021. But we couldn’t, and my fines only escalated,” Njau shared.
When the amnesty programme commenced in September, Njau viewed it as a lifeline. Her employers encouraged her to seize the opportunity to rectify her legal status. “They informed me it was my best chance to return home, reunite with my family, and return with a new visa,” Njau disclosed. Njau visited the ICP centre in Abu Dhabi to secure an outpass and is elated to be returning home. “My family eagerly awaits me. It’s been an eternity since I’ve seen them,” she said. She plans to spend three months in Kenya before returning to the UAE for a fresh start.
Odo Ekene arrived in the UAE on a residency visa and began working at a construction firm in Abu Dhabi. “Everything was progressing smoothly until the pandemic struck,” Ekene recalled, recounting the moment his life took a challenging turn. He lost his job during the pandemic and, hoping to find another, decided to remain. However, job prospects dwindled, and Ekene’s legal status lapsed, resulting in fines exceeding Dh50,000. “I was at a loss. I felt my life would end in the UAE without seeing my family,” he confessed.
Feeling entrapped, Ekene relocated to Dubai and took on odd jobs to survive, but his legal status remained unresolved. When the UAE announced the amnesty programme, he glimpsed hope. “After three years of living in fear, I was elated that I could finally reunite with my family,” he said.
As his visa was linked to Abu Dhabi, Ekene journeyed there to regularise his status. “Finally, I received my outpass, and soon I will fly back to Nairobi to reunite with my loved ones,” Ekene stated. His employer in the UAE has pledged to rehire him with a new residency visa upon his return. “This amnesty has granted me a second chance, and I am profoundly grateful to the UAE for this opportunity,” he expressed.
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