Citizenship of UAE

For a long time, the UAE has been associated with wealth, luxury and a high standard of living. The economy is developing at an accelerated pace in the Muslim state, and due to low tax rates, thousands of investors and businessmen from all over the world are traveling to Dubai to implement their projects. In 2024, many foreigners manage to find high-paying jobs in the Emirates.

School graduates dream of enrolling in local universities, since not only local universities operate in the UAE, but also a huge number of branches of educational institutions in Great Britain, France, the USA and Germany. All of the above categories of expatriates are considering the prospect of obtaining a passport in a Muslim state located on the Persian Gulf coast.

What is the difference between the status of a citizen in the Emirates? 

No country provides a special privilege for men who turn 21. As a bonus, they receive a plot of land and money for housing construction from the UAE authorities. 

Holders of an "Arab" passport can study at local universities free of charge. They also have the right to count on free medical care. Upon retirement, a person receives a severance payment from the state in the amount of 80% of his salary, which is about $80,000. There are more than enough advantages for those who have obtained citizenship in the Emirates (a detailed list of them will be given below).

Ways to obtain citizenship

Until 2021, the Emirati authorities issued passports to foreigners only in exceptional cases. The status of a permanent resident of a Muslim country was mainly granted by birthright and under the naturalization program (you need to live in the UAE for at least 30 years). And only residents of neighboring countries could participate in it.

Currently, amendments are in force in the Law "On Citizenship and Passports" of 1972, which expanded the list of grounds for obtaining citizenship in the Emirates.

Today, a passport of a Muslim country can be counted on within the framework of the following programs:

• origin; 
• naturalization; 
• marriage;
• investments in the economy; 
• special merits in professional fields.

By origin

Children automatically become UAE citizens if both or one of their parents has an Arab passport. The place of birth of the child does not matter. Also, a minor becomes a resident of the Emirates if he was born in a Muslim country and is recognized as an orphan.

Pay attention 

The legal fact of the birth of a child in the UAE is not considered an unconditional basis for granting citizenship. The authorities of some Emirates recognize the resident status of a newborn baby only if his father is a citizen of the country.

By naturalization

The Emirates have a so-called "residency qualification", which allows you to obtain citizenship. As for foreign applicants of "Arab" origin, for them the period of permanent residence in the territory of the Emirates has been reduced to 7 years. If natives of Qatar, Oman or Bahrain apply for the status of a citizen, they are issued a passport after 3 years of stay in the UAE.

Through marriage

Such a preference can only be used by women who want to relocate to a Muslim country. Initially, to enter the Emirates, you will need to apply for a visa for the purpose of creating a family ("Husband Visa").

To get an "Arab" passport, you must fulfill two mandatory conditions – to give birth to a child from a UAE citizen and live in the Emirates for at least 7 years. But even after that, the holder of a visa of the "Husband Visa" category does not have an absolute guarantee to obtain citizenship, since each case is individual and the final decision will be made by the authorities of the country.

For investments

Officials of the "Arab" state have provided such a preference for investors in 2021. But the option of investing in the purchase of real estate also cannot be considered an unconditional basis for obtaining a UAE passport. As in the previous case, the issue is resolved taking into account a variety of circumstances and not always in favor of the expatriate.

Despite the fact that the amount of investment is not determined at the legislative level and hypothetically an investor can spend a huge amount to buy apartments, he does not receive one hundred percent guarantees for a special status. His candidacy will be selected by the country's leadership on an equal basis with other applicants. If the status is refused, the investor can be satisfied with a resident visa, which provides a comfortable life in the Emirates.

For special merits

The authorities of the Arab country are ready to grant citizenship to foreigners who have achieved high achievements in the fields of science, sports, medicine, digital technologies and art. The program started back in 2021.

A "talented" specialist is required to be interviewed by representatives of the UAE authorities. Previously, he must receive letters of recommendation from relevant departments and prove to officials his contribution to the development of science or the it industry.

Advantages of citizenship

The status of a UAE citizen provides a set of the following preferences:

• preferential tax system; 
• visa-free trips to more than 170 countries (including the United Kingdom, New Zealand, Canada and the states under the jurisdiction of Schengen);
• access to free medicine and education;
• pension provision after 25 years of work; 
• receiving money for the construction of a house and a plot of land free of charge (for persons over 21 year); 
• purchase of residential and commercial properties on the local real estate market; 
• making loans in banking institutions of a Muslim country; 
• moving to the Emirates with family members (they also receive "Arab" passports); 
• work in the public administration system.

In addition to the rights, the holder of an "Arab" passport has certain responsibilities. In particular, he must strictly observe the "Sharia law" and refrain from public criticism of the authorities (including on social networks).

Dual citizenship

The laws of the Emirates do not provide for dual citizenship. Until 2021, the authorities of the Emirates adhered to a categorical ban on the issue of the possibility of having two passports for a citizen of an Arab country. Currently, the right to retain a second citizenship is granted to those who have received a special status for special merits or participated in an investment program. If the passport is issued as part of the naturalization procedure or through marriage, the applicant must refuse an identity card obtained in another country.

Citizenship by Investment Program

Amendments to the Law "On Citizenship and Passports" adopted in 2021 provided a way to obtain Emirati citizenship for people who are ready to invest money in real estate. But the specific amount of investments is not regulated. As already emphasized above, even if the deal is in the hundreds of thousands of dollars, it is not a fact that the UAE authorities will issue an "Arab" passport.

Recent reforms of the citizenship program

Most of the significant changes in the Law regulating the procedure for granting citizenship occurred in 2021. In particular, the list of applicants for special status has been expanded. It can be issued not only by home buyers in Dubai, but also by people with talents in certain areas of professional activity.

A passport in the Emirates is issued to inventors, scientists, and doctors. An individual set of citizenship exams is presented to each category of expatriates. For example, doctors and scientists should have ten years of work experience. Inventors are required to register at least 1 patent for know-how. Family members of the applicants are also eligible to apply for the status of a UAE citizen.

Step-by-step application process

To enter the country, the investor will need to obtain a visa permit of the appropriate category. Upon arrival in the Emirates, he undergoes a medical examination and prepares a package of documents that is necessary for obtaining citizenship. The application for citizenship is submitted to the relevant agency in charge of identification, customs and port security – ICP. The government structure includes representatives of 7 Emirates, who make the final decision on the candidate.

Pay attention 

An expatriate has the right to include minor children and a spouse in the application for citizenship.

Collecting documents and submitting an application

The algorithm for obtaining citizenship in the Emirates consists of the following stages:

1. Preparation of necessary documents.
2. Submission of applications, certificates and certificates to ICP.
3. Selection of candidates from relevant committees (courts of rulers and crown princes, as well as municipal authorities).
4. Nomination of candidates from relevant committees.
5. Approval of candidates by the ICP Advisory Committee, which includes representatives of 7 Emirates.
6. Taking the oath.
7. Obtaining an "Arab" passport.

Citizenship will be revoked if, for example, an investor sells a property in which he previously invested money. Violation of the domestic legislation of the country is also a reason for the deprivation of a special status.

List of documents

Applicants for citizenship in the UAE provide:

• application;
• civil passport;
• foreign passport;
• documents confirming financial guarantees (bank statement, income statement); 
• a certificate of no criminal record; 
• a certificate confirming proficiency in Arabic; 
• a medical insurance policy; 
• a certificate of health; 
• a receipt confirming payment of state duty.

Depending on the basis for granting citizenship, the above list may be adjusted.

The fee for the standard application procedure is $13, and for the accelerated format – $26.

Consideration of the application and decision on the candidate

The question of how long it takes to make a decision on granting Emirati citizenship is not regulated at the legislative level. The authorities may consider the application for several weeks or check the applicant's reliability for several months. Emirates ID is manufactured within 5-7 days.

Important

The authorities of the Emirates may refuse to grant citizenship without giving reasons.

Disadvantages of citizenship

Despite the many obvious advantages that Emirates citizenship provides, the special status is not without drawbacks. Their list boils down to the following:

• the conservative way of life in the country; 
• difficult integration into Muslim society; 
• special climatic conditions that not everyone can withstand; 
• "urban bustle" and constant noise that arises due to the constant construction of new real estate; 
• constant traffic jams.

Also, do not forget that the indigenous population of the Emirates lives according to the "Sharia laws", which are unusual for a European person.