UAE Citizenship

Introducing How to Obtain UAE Citizenship

In January 2021, amendments to the UAE Citizenship Law were made, providing an opportunity for foreigners living in the Emirates to become citizens of the country. However, the process of obtaining citizenship is challenging, and not all expats will meet the necessary requirements. It is important to note that real estate agencies do not provide services relating to UAE Citizenship.

This article will address who has the right to apply for citizenship, who deals with the granting of citizenship, and other features of the procedure. Before the amendments, UAE citizenship was mostly given on the basis of naturalization. However, to attract talented individuals and investors to the country, the rules have now changed. As Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the ruler of Dubai and the Vice-President of the UAE, stated, “The new directives aim to attract talents that contribute to our development journey.” The UAE intends to become a leading country in 2071, on its 100th anniversary, which is why the development of the economy, education, social infrastructure, and governance is important for the country.

At present, the category of foreigners who have the right to apply for citizenship has significantly increased and includes:

• Doctors, who specialize in a unique discipline or in any scientific field that is highly required in the Emirates, and have at least 10 years of practical experience, acknowledged scientific contributions, and recognized scientific contributions for research with scientific value. They should also be members of reputable organizations specializing in their field.
• Scientists with no less than 10 years of practical experience in their field, who are active researchers in a university, research center or private sector. They should also provide a recommendation letter from a recognized scientific institution and have made important contributions to the scientific field which can be proved by a prestigious scientific award or by a research grant obtained in the past 10 years.
• Inventors who have a recommendation letter from the Ministry of Economy and at least one patent approved by the UAE Ministry of Economy or other reputable international body.
• Individuals with creative talents who are innovators in their fields and have at least one international award. A recommendation letter from government entities is also required.
• Investors who have lived in the country for a long period of time. There is no exact criteria for investors who have the right to apply for Emirati citizenship. Long-term visa holders who have made a significant contribution to the Emirati economy may be able to obtain a UAE passport.

Family members can also apply for Emirati citizenship. Foreigners now have the right to hold both the Emirati passport and the passport of their country at the same time. However, if there are any changes such as the loss or acquisition of another citizenship, the holder must inform the authorities immediately. Moreover, the Emirati passport can be withdrawn upon breach of the conditions.

Previously, there were other ways to obtain a UAE passport, including marriage between an Emirati citizen and a non-Emirati woman, naturalization, and merits given by the heads of the emirate for foreigners.

The UAE passport offers numerous benefits, including free entry to 170 countries worldwide, free education, and medical help, the ability to work in a public institution, the right to 100% ownership of commercial enterprises and real estate in any area of the UAE, and pensions and retirement benefits from the age of 49 with 20 years of work experience in the country.

For those who do not meet the requirements for citizenship, long-term visas are available. Among the most popular options are freelance visas, which allow holders to work in the UAE or abroad for at least one year with a minimum income of AED 19,000 (USD 5,000) per month. Freelance visa holders can enjoy various amenities in the country and