Illegal residents in the UAE would be granted permits to leave the country and all fines to be waived if they hand themselves over to the competent authorities within amnesty period announced by the Ministry, an official said.

Major General Nasser Al Awadi Al Menhali, Assistant Undersecretary of the Ministry of Interior for Naturalisation, Residency and Ports Affairs at the Ministry of Interior stressed that the ministry would facilitate illegal residents to benefit from the amnesty, noting that the centres to receive the violators have been set up nationwide.

"There are clear instructions on dealing with offenders who hand themselves over voluntarily to authorities to benefit from the amnesty, as their departure procedures will be smooth," Al Menhali said.

These remarks were made during the visit paid by Al Menhali on Monday to passports office in Fujairah, Khor Fakkan, Ras Al Khaimah and Umm Al Qaiwain.

Al Menhali reiterated his call to the violators to benefit from the two-month long amnesty, which will be in force from December 4, 2012 to February 4, 2013.

He said the move is a humanitarian gesture from the higher leadership in the light of suffering of some categories who could not abide by the entry and residency law due to their conditions worsened by the accumulated fines on the families.