IPS Researcher Publishes Sri Lankan Evidence on UAE Visa Regulations’ Impact on Migration

Date: 22 November 2025

Dr Bilesha Weeraratne, Research Fellow and Head of Migration and Urbanisation Policy Research at the Institute of Policy Studies of Sri Lanka (IPS), authored a chapter titled “Changes in UAE Visa Regulations and the Dynamics in Informal Networks in Migration: Evidence from Sri Lanka” in The Future of Migration to GCC Countries volume published by Springer.

The study explores how UAE’s new labour laws and relaxed visa policies allow potential migrant workers to enter the country with a job seeker visit visa and later convert to work visas. These new policies have transformed recruitment practices and created informal migration networks.

Drawing on qualitative empirical evidence from Sri Lanka, Dr Weeraratne’s study finds that these reforms have increased reliance on such informal networks that offer greater flexibility and reduces migration costs and time. However, these new practices simultaneously lead to grey areas in Sri Lanka’s regulatory framework that heighten vulnerabilities for certain migrant workers.
The Future of Migration to GCC Countries: Migrants’ Aspirations, Labour Reforms, and Politics volume offers an in-depth analysis of evolving migration trends to Gulf Cooperation Council states, examining economic, social, and policy dimensions of South-South migration. Edited by Françoise De Bel-Air and Nasra M. Shah, the book explores labour reforms, migrant aspirations, and the challenges of safeguarding low-paid workers amid shifting employment patterns and regional transitions.