According to Major General Saif al-Shaafar, the first stage of development is already underway, but guest visas continue to be issued to those guests who cannot cause harm to the country. "We welcome tourists who will be able to get a correct impression of the country," he said. "I hope that these restrictions and the tightening of laws will help solve the problems of illegal immigration."
Contrary to expectations, after the amnesty was announced, fewer than 10,000 violators left the country (compared with the expected hundreds of thousands). The authorities hope that their number will increase by the end of the amnesty period. Immigration centers serving departing residents are working under an extremely heavy load, and it has been decided to increase their number. Also, at a meeting with airline representatives, it was noted that the number of outbound flights does not meet the needs of those leaving the country. Their number is also planned to be increased to those countries where illegal immigrants fly.
Last week, the UAE immigration service introduced a new form that must be filled out by all departing illegal residents. It specifies the details of their stay in the country, the method of entry, the names of accomplices, and the method of transferring money out of the country. These forms will be kept in the service’s archives to prevent repeat entry into the country by violators, reports the information service "Russian Emirates".