The UAE says it will grant citizenship to foreign nationals for the first time, as long as they add value to the Gulf country.
UAE Vice President and Dubai ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum said those eligible would include investors, special talents, doctors, engineers and artists.
They and their families will be able to have dual nationalities, he said.
Who Are Eligible?
It is unlikely that any low-paid employees will meet the stringent conditions.
Sheikh Mohammed said the aim was to attract those who could “contribute to our development journey”.
There is no application process; instead people will be awarded or selected to be given the citizenship by UAE royalty or officials, he said. The UAE Cabinet will then decide whether to approve or not.
The move comes amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic and a period of low oil prices, which has led to tens of thousands of foreigners leaving the country.
The new system will allow specialized professionals and foreign investors to establish deep roots in the country, according to Abu Dhabi-based newspaper The National.
Foreign Nationals
The growth of the Gulf province as a financial and tourism center depends on immigrants, says BBC Arab News editor Sebastian Usher. They make up the majority of the population and more than 90% of the workforce.
Foreign workers usually have renewable visas that are valid for several years and are linked to work.
Low-wage workers also play an important role in building the economy, providing services to builders, tourism, marketing and tourism sectors, as their incomes often help support household families.
Many of them spend years in the country, but have no formal way to become citizens or permanent residents, and have no access to social welfare benefits.
While low-income workers remain overlooked, the UAE has begun offering longer stays for certain categories of investor, student and professional.
Golden Card System
In 2019 Sheikh Mohammed introduced a “gold card” visa program that offers a ten-year stay for a variety of professionals including doctors and scientists, as well as well-performing students in schools, and their families. Last year eligibility was extended to more people.
To accommodate the new citizenship program, investors will need to have assets and property in the UAE, doctors will need to have expertise in areas that are highly sought after, founders will need to have UAE-approved patents and creative people will need pioneers in their fields, according to a list published by Wam news agency.
It is not immediately clear whether the new passport holders will be able to access the UAE’s social welfare program. The country spends billions of dollars on free education, health care, housing loans and an estimated 1.4 million citizen subsidies.
Citizenship is not usually offered to foreigners in Gulf countries. It was usually only offered to the wives of Emirati men and the children of Emirati fathers. The children of Emirati mothers who are married to foreigners do not automatically get citizenship but must instead apply for it, a process that can take years.
