UAE Allows Naturalisation Through Citizenship For Expats

In an unprecedented new move in the Middle East, UAE announced on Saturday, 30th January 2021, about the new amendments to its citizenship law. It is now possible for expats to opt for UAE citizenship if they are foreign investors, doctors, scientists, artists and talented people.

The goal for this move is to include, embrace and welcome people with exceptional talents and their families and make them a part of their society. This aims to guarantee stability in the society, and strengthen the development of the country.

These changes also reverse the previous law of ‘no dual-citizenship allowed’, thus allowing citizens to hold/keep other nationalities along with UAE’s citizenship.

These amendments have been taken based on the directives of President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, and have been approved by the Vice-President of UAE & Prime Minister of the UAE, and Ruler of Dubai, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.

The new citizenship amendment specifies particular categories and conditions that people need to meet in order to get their citizenship.

Requirements:

The requirements for each category are as follows:

Foreign Investors: Have to own a property in UAE.

• Medical Doctors and skilled professionals: Specialisation in unique scientific fields that are required by UAE is mandatory. Individuals must have contributed to studies and research within their field that hold scientific value. In addition to that, they must have 10 years of experience in the relevant field as well as that the individual has to be a member of a prestigious professional organisation in the field.
• Scientists: Much like the above-mentioned category, a scientist must have 10 years of experience, be an active researcher in their field and be affiliated with a university, research institute or in the private sector. Individuals in this category must have contributed to science greatly; received prestigious scientific awards or secured research funding in significant amounts for the last 10 years, as well as a recommendation letter from an accredited scientific institution in the UAE is mandatory.

Talented People: People in this category are divided into two sub-categories

• Inventors: Must hold one patented invention, that has been certified in the UAE by the UAE Ministry of Economy, or any other accredited relevant international institution. This invention must hold value to the UAE economy. Also, it is mandatory to get a recommendation letter from an accredited scientific institution in the UAE.
• Intellectuals and Artists: Individuals in this category must be regarded as pioneers in arts, culture, and any other talents. He/She must have received an international award in the said talent as well as a recommendation letter from the relevant institutions in the UAE.

Conditions:

This new citizenship amendment has conditions laid out that need to be fulfilled in order to obtain UAE citizenship. One must take an oath of allegiance to the UAE, and also make a pledge to always uphold and respect the country’s laws and also let the authorities know in case they get new citizenship or lose one.

The new law also makes specifications of the rights that are granted to the new UAE citizenship holders, like their requirements and right to own land and properties in Dubai, as well as establish & own businesses, and any other rights that they have under the citizenship law, granted to them by UAE’s federal institutions, approved by the Cabinet or local bodies of the government.

It also states that anyone will be stripped off of the UAE citizenship if they violate any legal commitment or fail to meet any conditions as set out in the citizenship law amendment.