About 2.5 million people live in the United Arab Emirates, of whom foreign workers make up up to three quarters. Most immigrants came from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. They mostly do unskilled work in construction, agriculture, or are hired as domestic servants. According to the BBC, it is predicted that about 300,000 people will leave the UAE.
Usually, the UAE authorities force caught illegal immigrants to pay a fine, but until the end of April the punishment will only be a ban on entering the country for a year. Those who agree to pay will be able to return sooner, but for many illegal immigrants the fines are too high: 100 dirhams ($27) per day of illegal stay, while most unskilled laborers earn 500-800 dirhams a month.
Usually, foreign workers in the UAE become illegal by overstaying their visa or changing jobs, which makes their work permit invalid. In addition, some flee from employers who ruthlessly exploit them, while losing their passports, which were taken in advance by those who hired them. The UAE authorities have called on employers to return passports to fugitives so that they can return to their homeland.
The government of the United Arab Emirates has recently been pursuing a so-called “Emiratization policy” aimed at reducing the country's dependence on foreign labor. After April 30, the Ministry of Internal Affairs intends to sharply intensify the hunt for illegal immigrants.