Immigration officials at Surat International Airport processed sixty Indian citizens in the early hours of Thursday after they were deported by UAE authorities for alleged violations of local labour and residency laws. The group—mostly low-wage workers from Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Punjab and southern states—flew in on Air India Express flight IX-274 using emergency travel certificates issued by the Indian Consulate in Dubai. Sources quoted by The Times of India said the deportees’ original passports and mobile phones were retained in the Emirates pending payment of overstay fines. Many had entered the UAE on short-term visit visas arranged by agents and then taken up informal construction or domestic jobs, contravening sponsorship rules. Several were reportedly detained during workplace inspections before being held at Al Aweer detention centre and subsequently removed. Upon arrival, India’s immigration service verified identities and completed bio-metric formalities before releasing the individuals. With no personal belongings or cash, many required assistance from relatives and local NGOs; members of the Surat Taxi Association pooled funds for onward tickets home. Consular officials said they are liaising with UAE authorities to retrieve confiscated documents. For global-mobility and compliance teams, the incident is a reminder of the UAE’s recent crackdown on visa overstays and illegal employment, particularly as the country digitises exit-entry records and imposes daily overstay penalties of AED 50. Employers using short-term visit visas for project labour risk fines of up to AED 100,000 per worker and blacklisting under Cabinet Resolution 65 of 2022. Companies should audit subcontractor practices and ensure that blue-collar hires hold the correct work permits and Emirates ID before mobilisation. India’s Ministry of External Affairs has reiterated its advice that jobseekers use only government-registered recruitment agents and verify offer letters on the eMigrate portal before travelling.
Source: The Times of India
