How to Get Citizenship in UAE

In January 2021, the UAE adopted an initiative allowing certain categories of foreign nationals, their spouses, and their children to obtain Emirati citizenship. The new programme was launched by Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan and the Cabinet, headed by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, ruler of Dubai; Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE.

Note! It is very important to understand that obtaining UAE citizenship is a very complicated process and can only be done through the courts of the rulers and crown princes, the offices of the executive councils, and the cabinet of ministers, based on the nominations of the subjects of the federation. RERA licensed real estate agencies can help you exclusively in obtaining an investor visa for 3 years or a long-term visa for 5-10 years (Golden Visa) by investing in real estate in the Emirate.

Some categories of foreign nationals such as specialists within a specific field, investors, scientists, doctors, and inventors, as well as individuals with creative talents can be nominated for UAE citizenship, and can become dual nationals by obtaining an Emirati passport.

Traditionally, Arabian Gulf countries have a conservative policy with regards to the naturalization of foreigners, which is a long and complex process carried out on a case-by-case basis. Today, the UAE is the first state in the Middle East to offer dual citizenship to non-emigrants, on a par with Western countries. Another Gulf state that offers citizenship programmes for foreign specialists is Saudi Arabia, which welcomes experts in medicine and technology.

As a rule, legal long-term stay for foreigners is limited for 2-3 years. This is validity period of a typical working visa, that may be renewed after expiration. The launch of “golden visa” program in 2019 was one step further in softening immigration regime. The abovementioned program allows 10-year residency to specialized degree-holders, experts of certain professions, outstanding students and their families. Before the new program was adopted only wives and children of the Emiratis and long-standing residents empowered by the presidential decree might obtain the UAE’s passport. The law clauses of January 2021 marked out the next significant change to the previous rule of naturalization – the list of eligible persons was considerably increased and dual citizenship was approved.

New law amendments allow granting the UAE citizenship for a few key categories of people that have crucial importance for the nation’s economics. Intending to attract and support foreign investors, skilled professionals, talented creatives and intellectuals, that may bring significant contribution to the prosperity of the country the government aims to enrich the society and ensure further evolution.

Evidently, it’s a “win-win” situation for all parties involved. Already working expats may set deeper roots in the country. New-coming specialists will be provided with an inclusive environment and innovative facilities for professional practice. All eligible persons will share an array of benefits, such as the right to own properties, to establish and run business in the Emirates and more.

Investing in human capital has a high priority and goes in line with the Centennial Plan 2071, elaborated and ratified by the UAE government. The vision identifies the major goals and strategies to be achieved within 100 years, successful implementation of which largely depends on qualified human resources. That is why the government is interested in “bright minds” inflow.

New provisions of Executive Regulation of the Citizenship and Passport Law identify categories of foreigners and eligibility conditions for the Emirati citizenship nomination, which include:

• Investors should own property in the UAE (the value of real estate and the longevity of ownership is not specified by now);
• Doctors or specialists must be engaged in any discipline, that is of high demand in the Emirates. They should have notable contributions and working experience not less than 10 years and participate in related eminent organizations;
• Scientists are expected to be active researchers in a university, a private company or any center of thought, and have 10 years or more of practice. The applicants should be acknowledged by contributions to the related fields of science. The recommendations from scientific establishments in the Emirates are mandatory.
• Inventors are requested to have one or more patented creations, recognized by the state Ministry of Economy (MoE) or any other international organization and submit recommendation letter from the MoE;
• Artists, intellectuals and creative talents will be appraised for innovative approaches and contributions, which are singled out by international rewards. They are required to provide recommendation letter from the governmental bodies.

An important addition is that the family members of the eligible candidates, namely spouses and children, have the right to be included in citizenship application.

Apart from the abovementioned criteria of qualification, the persons will have to take an oath of allegiance, comply with all applicable laws, rules and regulations and undertake immediately to inform the authorities about acquiring or losing any other nationality.

Current legislation defines several ways of becoming an Emirati citizen. These include: by the law, by citizenship and by naturalization. All related issues are handled by Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship.

According to newly adopted changes a foreigner can acquire the UAE’s citizenship only through the Rulers’ and Crown Princes’ Courts, Offices of the Executive Councils and the Cabinet based on the nominations of federal entities.

There is no application procedure as such by now, but general principle of nomination looks as follows: 

New rules of acquiring citizenship in the Emirates evoke many questions. The following below are the answers to the most common ones.

1. Select expats, investors, outstanding professionals, scientists and artists may now get the Emiratis passport and become dual nationals by virtue of Nationality Law amendments as of January, 2021.
2. Allowing foreigners to be entitled for the Emiratis citizenship is an important move in conservative course, traditional for the Middle Eastern nations. The UAE appears to be the first nation in the region to offer dual citizenship for non-Emiratis, on par with the Western countries.
3. In order to attract and support skilled professionals, talented creatives, intellectuals and foreign investors, the government invest in human capital, which will give dividends back in the shape of skills, inventions, researches, pieces of art and cashflow.
4. A foreigner may be granted the UAE citizenship via nomination by the Rulers’ and Crown Princes’ Courts, Offices of the Executive Councils and the Cabinet.
5. There are certain types of long-term visas, that allow non-Emiratis to live, work and study in the country for 1 to 10 years without a national sponsor – golden visa, retirement visa and remote working visa.
6. The UAE is famed for its social welfare system, fed by billion-dollar support. In case new passport holders be included to it, that will be a great benefit among others.