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DUBAI, Wednesday, AFP -The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has arrested some 40,000 illegal expatriates in recent months, during which another 100,000 overstayers left under an amnesty, a newspaper reported Wednesday.

The affluent Gulf state opened an amnesty from January 1 to June 30 to try to clear out more than 400,000 illegals.

As many as 85 percent of the 3.1 million UAE population are foreigners, with Bangladeshis, Filipinos, Indians, Iranians, Pakistanis and Sri Lankans accounting for the bulk of expats. Despite the end of the amnesty, Gulf News said the Interior Ministry was "encouraging" illegal residents to come forward "as the door is still open for them to leave".

However anyone caught staying illegally in the country would be punished. An official crackdown had netted 40,000 illegals, the daily said quoting a source in the Naturalisation and Residency department.

The Interior Ministry has announced searches and raids for illegals who face up to 10 years in jail and a 10,000-dirham (2,725-dollar) fine.

The oil-rich UAE attracts huge numbers of Asians seeking work, mainly as labourers and domestic workers, but many stay on after their visas expire.

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