UAE thinks out to offer citizenship to Expatriates to raise the economy

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In a major policy shift, UAE on 30th January, 2021, announced to offer citizenship to expatriates to lift up the economy.

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The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has proposed to offer citizenship to chosen investors and professionals, including scientists, doctors, engineers, artists, authors and their families to formalize an exercise aimed at giving expatriates a bigger stake in the economy.

This initiative has been taken to attract different talents that would help in the development of the country. UAE has more than 80% population of foreign residents who have been the backbone of the economy. Those eligible for citizenship will be nominated by the UAE cabinet, local Emiri courts and executive councils under set criteria. The criteria to get the citizenship are as follows:

• One should hold a property in UAE
• One or two patents must be approved by the UAE economy or by any other well esteemed international body. Along with this a recommendation letter is mandatory from Economy ministry.
• Doctors and specialists must be specialized in an uncommon and exclusive scientific discipline that is required in UAE.
• Scientists should be an active researcher in a university or research center or in the private sector, with a practical experience of not less than 10 years in the same field.
• Individuals with creative talents such as intellectuals and artists should be pioneers in the culture and art fields and winners of one or more international award. A recommendation letter from related government establishments is compulsory as well.
• The statement also says that the citizenship can be withdrawn upon breach of the conditions.

However it is still not clear that those who will get the citizenship of UAE will also get the right and benefit similar to an Emirati citizen or not.

Until now the citizenship in UAE and some other gulf states was reserved for foreigners in special cases but this change is going to widen and attract investment. Earlier gulf countries were reluctant in offering citizenship to foreigners but after the 2014 oil price fall they are inviting rich investors in the country. Saudi Arabia and Qatar have started the process of providing citizenship to some expatriates.