An injured Indian labourer has been given the chance to finally return home to India, thanks to a combination of Dubai's 2024 amnesty programme and the compassion of GDRFA officers who stepped in with urgent medical help during his exit process.
Rajesh Kumar, 48, from Uttar Pradesh, arrived in the UAE in 2003. He lost his job in 2012 and remained in the country illegally for 12 years — unable to leave and unable to afford the mounting fines — surviving entirely on the generosity of fellow workers after a workplace accident left him unable to walk.
A Fractured Leg and No Insurance
Kumar had suffered a fracture in his leg at his worksite. With no valid visa and no medical insurance, he was unable to seek treatment. The injury eventually left him with paralysis of the lower part of his body, leaving him dependent on others for even basic movement.
His situation came to a turning point when the UAE launched its two-month Dubai amnesty programme in September 2024, allowing people with expired visas and overstay fines to exit — or regularise their status — without penalties.
A Pakistani Bus Driver's Act of Kindness
Mohammed Ali, a school bus driver from Pakistan living in a labour camp in Al Qusais, learned of Kumar's situation and stepped in. He helped Kumar into a wheelchair and transported him to the Al Awir Amnesty Centre in Dubai — giving the stranded labourer his first real opportunity at going home in over two decades.
GDRFA Officers Arrange Medical Care and Travel Documents
When Kumar arrived at Al Awir, General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs – Dubai (GDRFA-Dubai) officers quickly recognised that he needed medical attention before he could travel. They arranged for him to receive treatment at a nearby medical centre and simultaneously coordinated with a representative from the Indian consulate to process his travel and exit documents.
Lt. Gen. Mohammed Al Marri, Director General of GDRFA-Dubai, described the amnesty as "a great opportunity for everyone to change their status," underscoring that the programme is designed to help people start fresh — without fear of fines or legal consequences.
Returning Home After 21 Years
After 21 years in the UAE, Rajesh Kumar was finally able to leave for India without an entry ban. Crucially, under the terms of the Dubai amnesty programme, those who exit during the amnesty window are not blacklisted — meaning Kumar will be eligible to return to the UAE in the future with the proper documentation.
The case highlights how the Dubai amnesty 2024 went beyond paperwork, with officers providing humanitarian support to some of the most vulnerable residents caught in long-term immigration limbo.
