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UAE visa amnesty: How a cart puller saved Dh6,500 in 60 days to start anew after getting fines waived

Hamza Ali, who earned only about Dh20 to Dh50 per day, initially felt it was impossible for him to make that much money — but he did

Published: Thu 28 Nov 2024, 6:00 AM

Updated: Thu 28 Nov 2024, 8:50 PM

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Image used for illustrative purpose. Photo: KT file

Image used for illustrative purpose. Photo: KT file

When Hamza Ali, a cart puller, heard about the UAE visa amnesty scheme in September, all that occupied his mind was the need to regularise his status and live legally in the UAE. It turned out it wasn't that simple.

He would need thousands in dirhams to fly home upon regularising his status before getting the chance to come back to the UAE on a fresh visa. He would need to raise at least Dh6,500 in just two months.

At first, it seemed impossible for Ali, who earned only about Dh20 to Dh50 per day — but he was determined to make it happen. “When I heard the news of amnesty, I simply couldn’t believe it. All I thought was I have two months to be able to start anew,” said Ali.

Hailing from Swabi town of Khyber region in Pakistan, Ali has been working as a cart puller in Deira for the past eight years. His livelihood depended on carrying the loads of shoppers in the bustling business district. He arrived in the UAE in 2016 and managed to earn a living and support his family. But when the pandemic hit in 2020, he lost his source of income and his visa expired.

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"Until 2021, the UAE authorities were very kind to let us live as they waived visa fees and extended the stay of expats after the pandemic,” said Ali, remembering the period when he was unable to earn anything.

Like many others in Deira, Ali found work scarce during the pandemic. Tourists and shoppers avoided markets due to the lingering fear of the virus, and cart pullers struggled to earn enough to make a living. “Cart pullers were in dire need of income. There were days when we didn’t earn anything at all,” said Ali.

“Tourists who visit Deira don’t usually carry their purchases. They hire us to transport their items, but there were very few tourists until the end of 2022."

Business only began to pick up again in 2023, giving Ali and his fellow cart pullers some hope.

“In 2023, the business slowly started improving, and we began earning enough to survive here and send a little money back home,” he said. “We don’t have any savings. Living here requires around Dh350 to Dh450 for rent, and around Dh300 for food and other basic needs. The rest of our income goes to our families.”

Summer months often bring in more work for cart pullers as loyal customers avoid visiting the market in the heat and instead call them to collect items from shops. “This summer, I earned about Dh1,800 every month. The remaining amount was sent home to my family, which is still being used,” said Ali.

When the amnesty programme was announced in September, Ali saw an opportunity to get back on track. “It felt like my life was starting over again. I knew I had to save (some money) so I can travel back home and come back to the UAE."

For two months, he worked "extremely hard", he said, taking up every odd job he could find and cutting every possible expense to make ends meet. "I managed to save Dh6,500,” said Ali.

Ali was initially concerned that he might miss the amnesty deadline. He had visited the GDRFA tent in Al Awir on October 30, only to find it packed with people. Despite getting a token number, he had to leave without being able to regularise his status. But with the extension of the amnesty, Ali’s worries have been eased.

"The extension has come as a pleasant surprise and a gift for me. I was so worried about what I would do, but now I have a second chance,” Ali said.

A week ago, Ali returned to his hometown in Swabi, Pakistan, to reunite with his family after years of hard work in the UAE. He is eagerly awaiting the approval of a new visa, which will allow him to return to the UAE and continue supporting his family.

“Dubai is a city of opportunities,” Ali said. “In just two months, I was able to make Dh6,500. I’ll work even harder to and continue supporting my family.”

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