BREAKING: In a rare move, UAE to offer citizenship to selected professional expats
"The law permits receivers of the Emirati passport to keep their existing citizenship."
On Saturday, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) said it had approved amendments that would permit it to grant citizenship to investors and other professionals, including doctors, scientists, and their families.
We adopted law amendments that allow granting the UAE citizenship to investors, specialized talents & professionals including scientists, doctors, engineers, artists, authors and their families. The new directives aim to attract talents that contribute to our development journey.
— HH Sheikh Mohammed (@HHShkMohd) January 30, 2021
The citizenship move makes the UAE the first Gulf Arab nation to formalize a process to give expatriates a more significant stake in the economy.
بتوجيهات من رئيس الدولة حفظه الله .. اعتمدنا اليوم تعديلات قانونية تجيز منح الجنسية والجواز الإماراتي للمستثمرين والموهوبين والمتخصصين من العلماء والأطباء والمهندسين والفنانين والمثقفين وعائلاتهم..والهدف هو استبقاء واستقطاب واستقرار العقول التي تساهم بقوة في مسيرتنا التنموية..
— HH Sheikh Mohammed (@HHShkMohd) January 30, 2021
The news was announced by the ruler of Dubai, and the UAE’s vice president, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum, on Twitter.
“The Emirati cabinet, local Emirati courts, and executive councils will nominate those entitled for the citizenship under clear criteria set for each category,” he said.
The UAE cabinet, local Emiri courts & executive councils will nominate those eligible for the citizenship under clear criteria set for each category. The law allows receivers of the UAE passport to keep their existing citizenship.
— HH Sheikh Mohammed (@HHShkMohd) January 30, 2021
“The law permits receivers of the Emirati passport to keep their existing citizenship.”
سيتم ترشيح الشخصيات المؤهلة للحصول على الجنسية الإماراتية عبر مجلس الوزراء والدواوين المحلية والمجالس التنفيذية.. وتم وضع معايير واضحة لكل فئة ..وسيسمح القانون لهذه الكفاءات الاحتفاظ بالجنسية الأخرى التي يحملونها.. وسيحافظ جوازنا الإماراتي على تصدره وتفوقه عالمياً ..
— HH Sheikh Mohammed (@HHShkMohd) January 30, 2021
The UAE is home to around 10 million people, with the vast majority being expatriate workers and only 1.4 million Emirati citizens.
The Emirati citizens are the main beneficiaries of the state’s budget on free education, healthcare, housing loans, and grants.
On Saturday, the government said that the amendment to the citizenship law “aims to appreciate the talents and capabilities present in the UAE and attract more bright minds to the Emirati community.”
It remains ambiguous if those eligible for the new citizenship path would benefit from the public welfare system.
Wealthy Gulf nations have long reserved their generous welfare system to their citizens, rarely allowing naturalization for foreigners.
The UAE’s passport has been often ranked as the most powerful globally, according to an online index that measures passports on their ability to provide visa-free travel.
According to Passport Index, UAE passport holders can enter 167 countries without obtaining a visa before arrival, a list created by a Montreal-based financial advisory firm Arton Capital.
Foreigners in the UAE have renewable visas valid for only a few years and tied to employment.
The authorities have previously made the visa policy more flexible, offering more extended residencies for specific types of investors, students, and professionals.
Last year, the authorities extended their “golden” visa system, which grants 10-year residency in the oil-rich Gulf state to specific professionals, specialized degree-holders, and others.
What are your views on this? Share with us in the comments below.
I bet that they’ll start with their new friends. ?
this is for newly accepted country people
This move is directly related to their move of setting up ties with Israhell.
Situation is going to be tougher for true muslims in the Arab world.