Dubai Busts Major Visa Scam: 21 People Convicted
- Publish date: Wednesday، 25 June 2025 Reading time: 1 min read
Dubai authorities crack down on illegal visa operations using fake companies and unauthorized residency applications.
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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… pic.twitter.com/9eR35o3Wx7
— 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.
Officials Promise Continued Action Against Visa Abuse
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.
What This Means
The crackdown is a clear reminder that Dubai is tightening control over visa misuse, especially as fraudulent employment and residency setups continue to rise in fast-growing urban hubs. Expect more high-profile crackdowns as the city pushes to safeguard legal procedures.