By dubailife 
**Dubai’s Amnesty Program Offers Hope to Overstayers: A Fresh Start for Skilled Workers**
As Dubai enters the amnesty period starting September 1, many skilled workers who have overstayed their visas are eagerly anticipating the chance to legalize their residency status. With job offers lined up, these individuals are ready to take full advantage of the UAE’s recent two-month amnesty program, which provides a lifeline for illegal residents and overstayers to rectify their status without facing penalties.
**A Second Chance for Overstayers in Dubai**
Take the story of Shahid, a 45-year-old Indian carpenter who has called the UAE home for the past 15 years. After losing his job when his company shut down in 2022, Shahid found himself in a precarious situation with an expired visa and no means to pay the mounting penalties. “I worked at a furniture factory in Ajman just to survive and send money back home. But when I secured a new job, the HR told me my visa had expired, and I needed to pay a Dh2,000 fine and exit the country to apply for a new visa,” Shahid recalled.
Unfortunately, Shahid’s financial situation made it impossible to pay the penalty in time, and it quickly ballooned to over Dh45,000. Despite these challenges, Shahid’s skills remained in high demand across Dubai’s interior design industry. “When the amnesty was announced, three companies approached me with job offers as soon as I cleared my illegal status. I couldn’t be happier,” said Shahid, who is now looking forward to a fresh start with a Dh3,500 salary and accommodation included.
**A Fresh Start for Dubai’s Skilled Workforce**
Similarly, Arun Biswal, a chef who has lived in the UAE for seven years, found himself in a dire situation after the restaurant where he worked in Sharjah shut down in 2021 due to the owner’s death from Covid-19. With the restaurant’s business license canceled and no job prospects during the pandemic, Arun was left struggling to make ends meet. “I started cooking for residents in Sharjah and Dubai, but I was listed as absconding, and I haven’t even checked how much the fines have accumulated,” Arun shared.
However, Arun’s fortunes are about to change. A resident who enjoyed his cooking introduced him to a friend who owns an Indian restaurant. “They loved the food I prepared, and the restaurant owner is willing to hire me as soon as my status is legal,” Arun said, expressing his relief at the opportunity to start over with a salary double what he earned before.
**Legalization Brings Opportunities in Dubai**
Immigration experts in Dubai emphasize the importance of taking advantage of the amnesty program to legalize residency status. “Once overstayers renew their status and become legal residents, they unlock numerous opportunities,” said Ali Saeed Al Kaabi, an immigration expert and director at ECH Digital. “Legal residents gain salary assurance, accommodation, the ability to open bank accounts, and most importantly, peace of mind. Their talents can no longer be exploited.”
Al Kaabi also highlighted that legal residents in Dubai can access health insurance, apply for a driving license, and even start their businesses in the UAE. “A world of opportunities awaits those who take this step to rectify their status. It’s not just about staying in the country but building a secure and prosperous future in Dubai.”
For many overstayers in Dubai, the amnesty program represents a critical opportunity to rebuild their lives and continue contributing to the city’s dynamic economy.
Source : Khaleejtimes