What to do if UAE residence visa renewal is turned down

Renewal of residence visa of an expatriate in UAE is at the discretion of The General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (the 'DNRD') who renew visa in normal course if there is no criminal charge against a person. In this case, there are criminal charges pending against you before the Dubai courts. It is not clear whether your passport is held by the court or it is with you. In any event, you may request the court to allow you to renew your visa and that of your family members. Should the court consider your request favourably, it will issue instructions to DNRD to renew your visa. Thereafter, you may renew the visa of your family members. For further advice, it is recommended to approach a legal counsel in the UAE