Suspect charged up to Dh9,000 for fake freelance permits; prosecutors warn penalties reach Dh10,000 per illegal visa plus deportation
DUBAI — September 3, 2026 : Dubai authorities have detained a former performing artist for operating an illegal immigration racket that used TikTok and YouTube to sell fraudulent freelance visas to job seekers for up to Dh9,000 each.
The arrest followed a joint operation by the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA) in Dubai and Dubai Police. The investigation began when immigration inspectors intercepted a counterfeit residency document during routine processing, triggering an operational trail back to the promoter.
Investigators discovered that the suspect, who had an established entertainment profile in his home country, leveraged his social media following for two years to target expatriates looking for employment opportunities in the UAE.
GDRFA Dubai detailed the case during a media briefing led by Director General Lieutenant General Mohammed Ahmed Al Marri.
According to investigators, the suspect admitted during interrogation to distributing more than 40 fraudulent visas, collecting between Dh7,000 and Dh9,000 for each permit.
One victim reported paying Dh7,500 after the promoter assured him an employment visa and a confirmed job for his sister, neither of which ever materialized.
Major General Dr Ali bin Ajif Al Zaabi, Assistant Director General of the Violators and Foreigners Follow-up Sector at GDRFA Dubai, stated that commercial fraud syndicates increasingly rely on digital channels to deceive vulnerable individuals.
“These offers are particularly promoted through digital platforms,” Al Zaabi said. “Our monitoring and investigation efforts helped uncover the circumstances of the case and trace it from the holder of the fraudulent document to those involved in issuing and promoting it, against whom legal action was taken.”
Major General Khalaf Ahmed Al Ghaith, Assistant Director General of the Entry Permits and Residency Sector, advised all job seekers and travelers to obtain residence paperwork exclusively through government channels and licensed typing centers.
The case has been transferred to the Dubai Citizenship and Residency Prosecution.
Counsellor Faisal Ahli, Public Prosecutor at the specialized division, highlighted the legal fallout for document forgery and recruitment exploitation. Individuals convicted of issuing or promoting fraudulent residency face fines of Dh10,000 per worker alongside mandatory deportation for foreign nationals. Commercial establishments involved face penalties of up to Dh100,000, which scale upward based on the total number of victims.
