DUBAI, July 23: Dubai’s top immigration official has issued a stern warning to expatriates: overstaying your visa after losing your job is illegal, and authorities are stepping up enforcement.

Lieutenant General Mohammed Ahmed Al Marri, Director General of the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA) in Dubai, reminded residents that visa and residency laws must be respected, even during uncertain times.

“If you follow the rules, no one will question you,” he said. “No one will come asking why your residency wasn’t renewed or why you’re overstaying, because you would’ve left the country like you're supposed to.”

His remarks come as the UAE intensifies efforts to crack down on residency violations. According to the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs, and Port Security (ICP), more than 32,000 people were caught breaking the Foreign Entry and Residency Law in the first half of 2025 alone.

Al Marri stressed that individuals who lose their jobs should exit the country promptly and only return after securing new employment from abroad.

“You may say, ‘I lost my job and I’m trying to find another one.’ That’s fine, but there’s a system in place,” he said. “You don’t have to break the law. If you follow the rules, everyone’s happy.”

The reminder underscores the UAE's zero-tolerance stance on immigration violations and aims to ensure that all foreign residents stay compliant with the grace period provided after employment termination or visa cancellation.