The United Arab Emirates has specific regulations concerning expatriates who have been deported from the country. When an employee stops working for seven consecutive days and their whereabouts are unknown, the employer has the right to file an absconding complaint with the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE) and the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA).
Article 1 of the Ministerial Resolution on Absconding Employee outlines the conditions for filing an escape report: “An escape report is applicable when an employee has ceased working for more than seven consecutive days, and the employer asserts that they do not know the employee’s whereabouts or have a legitimate reason for their absence, as per the provisions of this Ministerial Resolution.”
If an employee who is the subject of an absconding complaint is later located within the UAE, they may be apprehended and subsequently deported to their home country if found guilty by the court.
According to Article 11 of Ministerial Resolution No. (721) of 2006 on Escape Reports Procedures, a person who has been deported on grounds of absconding is permanently banned from employment in the UAE. The article states: “Any employee whose work relation ended due to absconding and against whom a final escape circular was issued shall be permanently prohibited from working in the State in accordance with the provisions of this resolution.”
Once an individual has been deported from the UAE, they are generally not allowed to re-enter the country. Article 28 of the UAE’s Immigration Law states: “A foreigner who has been deported may not return to the country except with special permission from the Minister of Interior.”
Considering the aforementioned legal provisions, it is unlikely for a deported expatriate to gain permission to travel back to the UAE.
