Dubai: A group of 30 Ethiopian women are to be deported from the UAE after immigration officials at Dubai International denied them entry on Tuesday, sources told Gulf News.
The group arrived at Dubai International’s Airport Terminal 2 earlier on a flydubai flight from Addis Ababa, the Ethiopian capital. They will be deported to the same city on a flight operated by the airline.
A flydubai spokesperson confirmed a group of Ethiopians travelling from Addis Ababa would be deported. The group, who had valid visit visas to enter the UAE, would be deported as they were unable to show proof of onward travel or return tickets, the spokesperson said.
Immigration rules stipulate visitors to the UAE must provide evidence that they would leave the country before their visa expires.
The flydubai spokesperson declined to comment further on the deportation, saying it was a matter for immigration.
Sources from the Ethiopian community told Gulf News that around 500 illegal housemaids come to the UAE daily through different airlines.
They enter the country on visit visas and then change them to employment visas after giving illegal agents huge sums of money.
The sources on Wednesday said this was the first time illegal housemaids were stopped and denied entry.
Some Ethiopian housemaids who travel from Kuwait and Saudi Arabia refuse to go back to Addis Ababa, pretending to be ill to prolong their stay in the UAE, the sources said.
The community members who spoke to Gulf News called on the Ethiopian embassy and consulate to take serious action against private agencies which bring in women on the promise of procuring jobs for them as domestic helpers.
