DUBAI – UAE Cabinet, chaired by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid AlMaktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai,adopted major changes in UAE visa rules on Wednesday.

Adopting to changing of times”This is a big respite for us, expatriatesincluding Pakistanis, who come here seeking employment,” Celestialtold *KhaleejTimes*. “This new visa scheme will definitely elevate the UAE’s position asa land of opportunities and a magnet for talents and professionals.” A newsix-month visa will be introduced for job seekers who overstayed their visabut wish to work in the country. The UAE Cabinet will also allowindividuals wishing to adjust or renew their visa to do so for a fee,without having to leave and re-enter the country.

Barney Almazar, director of corporate-commercial department at Gulf LawMiddle East, added: “These recent Cabinet decisions prove that the UAEgovernment is not deaf to the needs of the present times, taking intoconsideration the changes in international situation, technologicaladvancements, economic conditions and social mores.”

Incidentally, Almazar recently helped a mother with three kids get areprieve from a hefty overstaying fine that has reached a staggeringDh712,400.

“It became too much to bear for the family but there was no legal frameworkto plead the case and we appealed purely on humanitarian grounds that themother was a victim of an unscrupulous fixer,” Almazar explained.

“Now there will be clear-cut guidelines to resolve cases like this. Thenew rules will eliminate or reduce the need for ‘fixers’ as the processwill be straightforward,” Almazar underlined.

He added: “Moreover, the simplified and straightforward rules especiallyon overstaying expats would encourage those who are illegally staying toamend their visa status.”

“Before, those who were overstaying had no way to legitimise their stay inthe country other than appealing on humanitarian considerations and theconfusing rules, lack of adequate information and understanding of the lawsmade them fearful to act on their situation. Now, we have a legal basis forthem to secure their residency status,” Almazar explained.

David John, managing director at David John Management Consultancies, saidpeople who come to the UAE on the pretext of being tourists but areactually seeking employment can now “genuinely come to the UAE with thereal purpose of looking for jobs.”

“Their conscience will be clear and they will no longer be fearful thatwhat they’re doing is illegal,” he added.