UNITED ARAB EMIRATES: New Penalty Structure of Immigration Non-Compliance Announced

December 16, 2021


The UAE authorities have announced a new penalty structure for immigration non-compliance relating to visa issuance, renewal, and cancellations.

The implementation date for these new consequences has yet to be announced by the UAE government, but is expected in the upcoming months.

Penalty Structure

Once fully implemented, the following possible penalties will replace the current sanctions:

  • Unauthorized recruitment of foreign national to work for a third party or not allowing the recruited foreign national to work:
    • Monetary fine of AED 50,000 (multiplied by the number of offenders); and/or
    • Deportation – including possible deportation of the foreign national responsible for the recruitment
  • Violation of terms and conditions of issuance, renewal, and/or cancellation of a Residence Permit
    • Monetary fine of AED 10,000;
    • Imprisonment for up to three (3) months; and
    • Deportation.
  • Visa-holder performing activities outside those for which the visa was issued
    • Monetary fine of up to AED 10,000 (multiplied by the number of offenders); and
    • Imprisonment – maximum duration to be confirmed.

As with all penalties for non-compliance, the above are only possible sanctions. The UAE authorities are anticipated to levy penalties based on the severity of the violation.

Newland Chase Insights

This announcement does not contain any changes to the current immigration and residency process in the UAE and the implementation timeframe for these changes is also pending from the authorities. Sponsoring employers and foreign nationals alike should make close note of the upcoming penalties and ensure they remain compliant with all immigration regulations in the UAE.

Newland Chase will closely monitor when the UAE will officially implement the new penalty structure and provide an update once available.

As always, don’t hesitate to reach out to your Newland Chase dedicated contact or submit an inquiry here should you have any specific questions regarding this announcement.

This immigration update is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for legal or scenario-specific advice. Furthermore, it is important to note that immigration announcements are subject to sudden and unexpected changes. Readers are encouraged to reach out to Newland Case for any case- or company-specific assessments.