The Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Charity and Humanitarian Foundation on Monday signed an agreement with the Department of Naturalisation and Residency in Dubai to raise funds to help illegal residents, who have completed their prison terms, return home.

On the occasion, Major-General Mohammed Al Marri, Director-General of the DNRD, said, 'It will be an annual agreement between both parties with a decision to raise funds for an unlimited number of travel tickets, but it will depend on each illegal’s case.

'We thank the foundation for their humanitarian move to work with us, the DNRD, and help raise funds for those who cannot fund their travel back to their homelands even after serving their jail terms.'

The foundation was the first to respond to this humanitarian issue and offered help and support, which is in line with the keenness of His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to help the needy to meet their necessities of life,' he added.

Ibrahim Bumelha, Vice-Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the foundation, said, 'We thank Maj-Gen Mohammed Al Marri for contributing to such an important issue, and his eagerness to help raise the required funds.

Late in June, the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs in Dubai detained 115 people as part of an intensive crackdown on illegal workers and residents across the emirate.

At that time, Khaleej Times had quoted Lt-Col Khalaf Al Ghaith, Assistant Director-General for Investigation and Illegals Follow-up Sector, as saying that the illegals arrested proved to have absconded from their sponsors, and worked part- and full-time with other employers in violation of residency and labour laws.

'The directorate, having been alerted by our undercover agents about the illegal workers, raided their hideouts arrested them, and referred them to the prosecution for legal action.'

Under the UAE labour laws, the holder of an employment visa from one sponsor is not allowed to work even part-time for someone else unless permitted by the sponsor. Visit-visa holders are not allowed to work at all.

'Members of the public are urged to immediately report any illegal residents or absconding persons they know of or come across to the section at toll-free number 8005111,' he said.

Late last month, the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs in Dubai announced that it detained 5,552 illegal residents and workers in the first five months of the year. Those included a gang of four Asian men implicated in illegally assisting, sheltering and providing part- and full-time work to 18 maids, including two Africans and 16 Asians.

'The 5,552 illegals detained in the first five months of this year include 4,337 men and 1,215 women — 1,133 workers, 832 domestic helpers, 2,241 illegal residents and 1,346 on expired visas,' said Maj-Gen Al Marri.

'The detainees were nabbed in 106 raids on 31 different sites across the emirate, including five done in collaboration with the Dubai Municipality,' he added.