Latest news with #AliHumaidBinKhatem
UAE Moments
an hour ago
- Business
- UAE Moments
Dubai Busts Major Visa Scam: 21 People Convicted
Dubai has convicted 21 individuals for running a large-scale residency visa scam, with total fines exceeding AED 25 million, the city's Citizenship and Residency Prosecution confirmed. The group—made up of people from different nationalities—illegally obtained and misused residence visas by setting up fake companies. These companies had no actual offices, existed only on paper, and were quickly shut down after securing the visas, leaving recruited workers in legal limbo. Fake Firms Targeted for Exploiting Residency Visas The investigation began after the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs in Dubai raised red flags over suspicious business activity. Authorities uncovered 33 fake commercial entities involved in the scheme. The Dubai Citizenship and Residency Prosecution has secured from the Dubai Citizenship and Residency Court a conviction and a fine totalling AED25.210 million against 21 defendants of various nationalities involved in visa fraud. The individuals were found guilty in one of the… — Dubai Media Office (@DXBMediaOffice) June 24, 2025 The firms used fake addresses and avoided official labour and residency procedures to profit from unlawful visa issuances. Investigators found a total of 385 residency visas that were issued under these fraudulent operations. Dr. Ali Humaid bin Khatem, Senior Advocate General and Head of the Citizenship and Residency Prosecution, said the case highlights the government's strict stance against visa manipulation. He also emphasized the ongoing collaboration between the prosecution and other authorities to protect the integrity of the UAE's residency and labour systems.
Arabian Business
12 hours ago
- Business
- Arabian Business
Dubai convicts 21 in $6.9m phantom visa fraud case
The Dubai Citizenship and Residency Court has issued a landmark conviction against 21 individuals of various nationalities, sentencing them in one of the emirate's largest visa fraud cases. The defendants were fined a combined total of AED25.21m ($6.86m) for orchestrating a wide-ranging scheme that involved issuing hundreds of fraudulent residency visas through non-existent companies. The case was prosecuted by the Dubai Citizenship and Residency Prosecution following an investigation prompted by the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs in Dubai. Dubai visa arrests Authorities uncovered a network of phantom companies set up solely to obtain residence visas under false pretences. These companies were later shut down without legalising the employment status of recruited workers, leaving many vulnerable to exploitation. According to Dr. Ali Humaid bin Khatem, Senior Advocate General and Head of the Citizenship and Residency Prosecution, the investigation uncovered 33 shell entities operating with forged business licences and fictitious addresses. These entities were found to have been used to illegally secure and misuse a total of 385 residency visas. Dr. Bin Khatem said: 'The Public Prosecution will continue to work closely with its partners to address any violations of laws governing the entry and residence of foreigners as well as labour regulations in order to preserve the stability of society and the integrity of the labour market'.
The National
17 hours ago
- Business
- The National
Residency visa scammers busted in Dubai: 21 convicted and Dh25m fine issued
Dubai's Citizenship and Residency Court has issued a Dh25.2 million fine against 21 people convicted in one of the emirate's largest residency visa fraud cases. The suspects, from several nationalities, were found guilty of operating fraudulent companies to unlawfully obtain residency visas, which they later sold to 385 recipients. The network exploited legal loopholes by setting up dummy businesses that existed only on paper and never functioned as legitimate employers. Counsellor Ali Humaid bin Khatem, senior advocate general and director of Dubai's Citizenship and Residency Prosecution, said it is one of the largest cases of misusing residency visas to exploit people. He said the investigation included 33 commercial establishments, which served as decoys for obtaining and misusing the visas. 'Most of the business licences under which the illegal establishments operated had been secured by furnishing fictitious addresses. The aim was to undermine and exploit residency and labour regulations for unlawful gain,' Mr bin Khatem said in a statement on Tuesday. Officials from the General Directorate of Residency and Foreign Affairs in Dubai discovered the companies and reported them to the Dubai Public Prosecution. 'The arrests followed extensive monitoring, follow-ups and inspections of the companies' purported offices,' Mr bin Khatem added. Following their arrest, the suspects were referred to the prosecutors for investigation and evidence was gathered and submitted. 'The prosecutors will continue to work closely with its partners to address any violations of laws governing the entry and residence of foreigners as well as labour regulations in order to preserve the stability of society and the integrity of the labour market,' Mr bin Khatem said.
