Can foreigners obtain UAE citizenship? Conditions for obtaining full residency of the country. Ways. Requirements. Required documents. Reasons for refusal. Dual citizenship in the UAE.
The United Arab Emirates seems to foreigners a fabulous country with an incredibly high standard of living, and this is not far from the truth. The UAE has managed to transform itself from a poor region into an ideal place of residence in a few years. The Emirates attract people from the countries of the former CIS with the luxurious skyscrapers of Abu Dhabi and Dubai, beautiful landscapes and the highest level of service.
With a UAE passport, you can freely travel to 173 countries of the world, it occupies the 16th position in the ranking of “strong” passports. Citizens of a federal state can live, work and study in peace, open a business in the country without any restrictions. However, the authorities, which provide huge privileges to local residents, do not seek to open borders; UAE citizenship is assigned only in exceptional cases and under serious restrictions.
Conditions for obtaining citizenship
About 90% of foreigners live in the UAE, and although the government strongly welcomes the replenishment of labor reserves through immigrants, the Emirates is still one of the most closed countries in the world. However, there are some conditions, by fulfilling which you can apply for UAE citizenship.
Arab citizens of Omani, Bahraini or Qatari origin need to “recruit” only 7 years. Other conditions for applicants for UAE citizenship:
- the presence of a legal source of income for living;
- good reputation confirmed by local residents;
- knowledge of the Arabic language of a certain level;
- lack of criminal histories in the past;
- compliance with the laws of the UAE.
Applicants for the UAE passport are approved by the Cabinet of Ministers and the rulers of the Emirates, after which the foreigner takes the oath. Naturalized citizens do not receive the right to participate in local elections, with the exception of persons from Arab countries.
Ways to obtain citizenship
Those who were born in one of the seven monarchies – members of the federal state were lucky to become citizens of the Emirates. For foreigners, there are only three options for acquiring UAE citizenship: marriage to an Emirati, special merit and naturalization. More about each method in the following blocks.
By birth
A child acquires UAE citizenship by birth if his father is a citizen of the Emirates. In this case, the country of birth does not matter. Even if the mother is not married to an Emirati, he officially recognizes the baby. Citizenship is also given to children born:
- on the territory of the state from unknown parents;
- Emirati mother and unknown father.
The birth within the borders of the UAE of children from foreign citizens does not give them the right to automatically acquire citizenship.
Marriage
Only women who have entered into a marriage union with a citizen of the Emirates can obtain a UAE passport through marriage. But before applying for UAE citizenship, you must live together for at least 5 years, of which 3 years – in marriage. It is important to remember that the mere fact of registering a relationship is not sufficient, a foreigner must fulfill a number of conditions:
- renounce their first citizenship;
- obtain the approval of the spouse’s family;
- request permission from the UAE Ministry of Interior.
In practice, marriages with foreign women are entered into only by wealthy Emirates, the fact is that with such unions, the state deprives the family of certain privileges (interest-free loans for housing, soft loans). There is another difficulty – in the event of a divorce, the father becomes the guardian of the children, and without his permission, the mother will not be able to take them out of the country. Men of foreign origin are not legally entitled to UAE citizenship after marrying an Arab woman. In addition, issues of faith are connected here, few Muslim women will dare to violate the Koran. Previously, children from such a marriage were also deprived of the right to citizenship, but, following the recommendations of the UN, the authorities revised these norms.
Naturalization
Those who are willing to wait so long should think about obtaining a resident visa – as such, there is no residence permit in the Emirates. A resident visa can be obtained for employment in an Arab company, through the purchase of real estate or the opening of a business. Students of Emirati universities can “fix” in the country with a further job search. Visas are issued for different periods (depending on the grounds), all of them are subject to prolongation.
Employment can become a real chance of legalization. Foreigners are happy to be employed in the hotel business, where salaries are rather high, especially for luxury hotels in Dubai. The applicant must have at least basic knowledge of English. At the end of the working contract, you can get a certificate with which you will be hired in any hotel in the world. Employees who have proven themselves well will be able to continue to renew their work permit (as long as they have an employment contract in hand). Important: with this method of emigration, restrictions on the transfer of the family are possible, all the nuances are resolved directly with the employer. It is also worth discussing the terms of the social package in advance – reputable companies provide foreigners with a place of residence, food, insurance and pay for travel tickets.
Studying at an Arab university will require knowledge of English at the native level; for admission, you must provide a TOEFL or IELTS certificate. The annual cost of education is 5-10 thousand dollars in Arab universities and starts from 20 thousand dollars – in branches of British universities. You cannot get a job with a student visa, but a university graduate will be able to find a job in the UAE with a high starting salary and continue the naturalization procedure.
Acquiring real estate allows you to obtain a resident visa for 3 years, with a cost of housing from 1 million dirhams (~ 270 thousand $). The required level of monthly income is 10 thousand Dh. The owner is allowed to personally live in the apartment or rent it out. The visa does not allow employment, but its holder can legally stay in the Emirates, open bank accounts. While maintaining the conditions of residence, the permit is repeatedly extended.
Starting your own business involves investments in the amount of 70 thousand Dh (~ 19 thousand $), then you can apply for a resident visa for a businessman. The procedure for registering a company varies by emirates, you should consult in advance with local migration services. When investing in a new or existing company, a foreigner can get a job, but only in a company in which he is an investor. A business visa is issued for 3 years, and the family of an immigrant also receives a resident status. You can cross the borders of the UAE without restrictions, but not more than 180 days a year, otherwise the permit will be canceled.
Sponsor family visa is issued to the spouse and children of a resident officially employed in the Emirates. For its registration, the host relative must receive a salary of 4 thousand Dh (if the employer did not provide housing) and 3 thousand Dh (with housing under the contract). If there are more than two family members, this level is insufficient for a comfortable stay. The permit is valid exactly as long as the visa of the sponsor himself, with prolongation accordingly.
For special merit
In rare cases, UAE citizenship is awarded to outstanding foreigners who are interested in the state. These include the following categories:
- Doctors who have made an invaluable contribution to their scientific field, with 10 years of work experience.
- World-class award-winning research scientists with over 10 years of experience and references from UAE scientific institutions.
- Inventors with one or more patents approved by the Emirates Ministry of Economy.
- Creative personalities who have been awarded international distinctions and who have discovered new trends in art.
- Outstanding athletes who subsequently compete in world competitions from the UAE.
The emir of one of the seven monarchies can apply to the president with a request to grant citizenship to an honored foreigner. The request is granted at the federal level, and the UAE passport is presented by the head of the emirate.
For investment
Previously, capital investments in the economy of the United Arab Emirates did not give a direct right to citizenship; in early 2021, the government prepared amendments to the legislation. The changes have not yet come into effect, and at the moment, investment remains one of the long-term options for obtaining UAE citizenship. Through investment, an immigrant will be able to obtain a long-term visa for 5 or 10 years, with the right to live and work in the state:
- A 5-year visa is issued for investments in real estate in the amount of 5 million (Dh) or $1.36 million. You need to be the owner for at least 3 years. Dubai apartments are especially popular among foreigners.
- A 10-year visa is obtained by an investor who has invested in a business from 10 million Dh (~ 2.7 million $). To do this, you can put money on a deposit or register a company.
Investments must be very large, each case is considered on an individual basis and the amount of investment is of great importance.
New Talent Program
From December 2020, the Emirates Government is issuing a 10-year visa to qualified foreigners who wish to relocate to the UAE. Doctors of sciences, programmers, developers of artificial intelligence technologies, epidemiologists and virologists, graduates of certain universities will be able to receive such permission. A long-term visa together with an immigrant is received by his children and spouse. Upon expiration, the permit is renewed, and subsequently you can apply for UAE citizenship. Thus, the authorities attract talented foreigners to the country.
The procedure for obtaining citizenship
Naturalization is handled by the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the petition is drawn up in the name of the president and sent to the office along with a solid set of documents. One of the key conditions is a fairly high level of income of the applicant. In the Emirates, $5,000 a month is a low rung on the social ladder, and a foreigner with $1,500 a month will be declared financially insolvent. The second important factor is compliance with UAE laws and international immigration regulations. The candidate will have to pass an exam in culture, history and legislation of the UAE. The level of Arabic language proficiency is checked by an oral interview and a written exam. Migration officers may invite the applicant for an interview several times, to understand the personality. The application is considered for a long time – sometimes up to 3 years, with a positive result, the foreigner is awarded a certificate of UAE citizenship.
Required documents
A foreigner who has fulfilled all the legal conditions forms a package of documents for UAE citizenship, which includes:
- application and passport;
- documents on the basis of legal residence (marriage certificate, work contract, real estate ownership, etc.);
- family book (Khulasat Al Qaid, where the head of the family enters his wives and children);
- recommendations of the employer and neighbors about the integrity of the applicant;
- papers confirming the 30-year period of residence;
- certificates of non-conviction:
- income declaration (minimum $5,000 per month).
As for the UAE passport, this document only certifies the identity and does not legally intersect with citizenship. To receive it, it is enough for people from the countries of the former CIS to stay within the borders of the Emirates for 15 years. With an Emirati passport, you can travel to other countries, it does not give other privileges.
Reasons for rejection
The procedure for acquiring citizenship of the Emirates is quite complicated and requires a lot of patience from the applicant, but even if all the requirements are met, you may face a refusal. African-Americans, Indians, Chinese and Jews do not definitely receive citizenship, although foreigners of these nationalities have the right to be in the Emirates in the status of a resident. The refusal cannot be challenged through lawsuits, the only way out is a second application, a new package of documents and again a long wait. However, registration services are free, and you can apply as many times as you like.
Dual citizenship in the UAE
The United Arab Emirates does not recognize dual citizenship. Giving a foreigner the status of a subject requires the renunciation of any other. UAE citizenship can be canceled in case of violation of the conditions of stay, non-compliance with laws, absence from the state for more than 4 years.
Benefits of living in the UAE
A citizen of the UAE enjoys numerous benefits by living in one of the most prosperous countries. He is entitled to:
- full state protection;
- high level of medical care (UAE is in the top ten world leaders);
- managerial positions and increased social status (a migrant earns 3 times less);
- free education and prestigious education (diplomas of the Emirates are recognized all over the world);
- subsidies and all kinds of benefits, bonuses for significant dates;
- civil right to purchase land.
There is no corruption, poverty in the state, and crime has been practically eradicated, there are favorable conditions for business and a very calm environment. However, life in a Muslim country with its customs and practices takes a long time to get used to, this applies to clothing, behavior and habits. Civil relations are not welcome here, extramarital affairs are considered a criminal offense. The country has strict censorship, many sites are inaccessible, there are many fines for inappropriate behavior. In addition, it is difficult for foreigners to “compete” with the Arabs in search of work; the road to unskilled vacancies and service personnel is rather open before them.
Main conclusions
- Under amendments to the Citizenship Law, which came into force in January 2021, it became possible for a certain category of foreign citizens to obtain a passport of a citizen of the UAE for outstanding merit, subject to maintaining the current citizenship of the applicant.
- This step is very important for the UAE government, as it will be the first state in the region, which, along with Western countries, offers foreigners dual citizenship.
- To attract and retain skilled workers, talented artists, intellectuals and foreign investors, the government is investing in human capital that will pay dividends in skills, inventions, research, art and cash flows.
- UAE citizenship is granted only by decision of the courts of the rulers and crown princes, the offices of the executive councils and the Cabinet of Ministers.
- In addition to UAE citizenship, foreign citizens can obtain long-term visas for 5-10 years, or short-term visas for 1-3 years, which allow them to live, work and study in the emirates without the participation of a sponsor.
- The UAE is famous for its billions of dollars worth of social security system. If new passport holders are included in this program, this will be another big benefit along with other benefits.
FAQ
According to the law, regardless of whether the child was born on the territory of the Emirates or abroad, if his father is a citizen of the UAE, then the child automatically receives citizenship.
If the father is a foreign citizen, and the mother is a citizen of the Emirates, then the child has the right to obtain citizenship only through naturalization.
If the child was born in the UAE, but the identity and citizenship of the parents are not established, then he has the citizenship of the Emirates until the opposite is proven.
Expat children born in the UAE retain the citizenship of their parents.
There are a number of visas in the UAE that allow foreign citizens to live, work or study for several consecutive years without the participation of a local sponsor. These include:
- The Golden Visa allows investors, entrepreneurs, outstanding students and talented professionals to reside in the UAE for 5 or 10 years. To obtain this visa, certain lists of requirements are presented to each of the categories of applicants.
- The retirement visa is valid for 5 years with the possibility of renewal. It is available to foreign nationals over the age of 55 who have invested more than AED2,000,000 ($550,500) in UAE real estate or who have savings of AED1,000,000 (about $272,000). In addition, their stable income must not be less than 20,000 dirhams ($5,500) per month.
- The remote work visa allows you to live in the Emirates and work remotely in any other country for 1 year, exempt from paying taxes
and allow you to enjoy many other benefits of living in the UAE. The applicant’s income must be around AED 19,000 ($5,200). The cost of such a visa is 1,055 dirhams ($287) per year.
This is mainly due to the fact that the UAE government is committed to preserving the national culture, lifestyle and language from assimilation. According to the latest estimates, the population of the UAE is about 10 million people, of which just over 10%, approximately 1.4 million people are the local population, and all the rest are foreign citizens.
It is worth noting the fact that the UAE government is committed to maintaining a high standard of living for its citizens. As you know, the state annually spends billions of dollars on free health care and education, housing loans, grants and other things in support of the indigenous population.
A permanent residence permit can be obtained by marrying a citizen of the UAE. This rule applies only to foreign women. After 7 years of marriage and one or more children, the husband (UAE citizen) can apply for the naturalization of his wife. If the couple does not have children, then the period increases to 10 years. Also a necessary condition is the adoption of Islam and fluency in Arabic.
If unforeseen circumstances arise (divorce or death of a spouse), the wife can retain her citizenship if she resides in the UAE or remarries to a UAE citizen.
You can lose citizenship if you do not follow these rules or if you marry a foreign citizen.
Tourism Specialist in the UAE. Higher professional education. Paperwork and booking tours in the UAE. Professional management of clients at all stages of the journey – from the application to the return.
