Millions of foreigners seeking permanent residence consider the UAE to be their ideal location. People travel to the UAE from all over the world in search of steady professions in a booming labor market. As a result, there are currently many more foreigners residing in the UAE than there are native Emiratis. Due to this gap, the expatriate majority now makes up about 80% of the UAE’s total population. Therefore, it is crucial that you are informed of the process for obtaining UAE citizenship once you have completed the processes to obtain a UAE visa and have arrived in the Emirates.
People travel to the UAE because of its robust economy and welcoming business climate. The citizens of Dubai have access to a center for international aviation, fantastic natural resources, and top-notch infrastructure. Expats have the option of relocating to Dubai, and if you intend to do so permanently, obtaining UAE citizenship would be the best option.
To demonstrate its dedication to tolerance and diversity, the UAE updated its rules to permit people with money, specialized knowledge, and occupations to become Emirati citizens. Among the professions are physicians, scientists, engineers, artists, writers, and their families.
Therefore, it’s always a good idea to stay current on how to apply for permanent UAE citizenship, regardless of whether you’re looking for a work visa or are currently an expat living in the UAE.
If you’ve made the decision to apply for UAE citizenship, the information in this article will serve as a thorough guide on how to apply for UAE citizenship.
1. UAE Citizenship By Investment
The granting of the Golden Visa, which permits residence in the state, was all that the Emirates’ legal system required, even for significant investments, until recently. The Federal Law No. 17 was amended in January 2021, and as of that day, investors who made investments in the UAE’s economy began to earn UAE citizenship as a result.
Only for the purpose of purchasing real estate can foreigners invest in order to receive a United Arab Emirates passport. Loan funds cannot be used to make investments, and the acquired item cannot be a pledge under the law prohibiting alienation. The UAE government doesn’t specify the minimal investment needed to become a citizen and evaluates foreign applicants on a case-by-case basis.
Marriage to an Emirati is one of the quickest routes for a woman to obtain citizenship in the UAE. To accomplish this, you must fulfill a number of conditions:
A native father bestows nationality on a child who is born to a woman who does not have UAE citizenship. After getting married to an Emirati woman, men of foreign descent cannot apply for citizenship in the UAE. Additionally, their offspring won’t be granted the right to naturalization.
2. By Naturalization
The most time-consuming route to becoming an Arab Emirates citizen is for Russians, Ukrainians, or Belarusians to reside legally in the country for more than 30 years. A foreigner must have a compelling justification to get their initial residency permit. It could be through job, education, business, or investment. In order to participate in these activities, the proper visa must be secured and renewed on time. An application for naturalization must be registered for 1000 AED.
3. Obtaining UAE Citizenship Through Other Arab Countries
The emirates have made it simpler for Arabs who practice Islam to become citizens in order to represent adjacent friendly governments. Before submitting a citizenship application, residents of Oman, Qatar, and Bahrain must have lived in the UAE for at least three years with sufficient lawful income, housing, job, and no prior convictions. This need is increased to 10 years for Arabs from other states, although those with professional credentials only need 7 years of legal residency.
4. Dual Citizenship In The UAE
In order to complete the citizenship process in the Arab Emirates, Russians, Ukrainians, and Belarusians must renounce their current passports. In this situation, having two citizenships could lead to being denied federation citizenship. However, current revisions to the state law exempt several applicant categories and their family members from this requirement. It is possible to maintain the present citizenship when applying for a passport as a UAE citizen through the acquisition of real estate.
5. Obtaining A UAE Passport
There are two different sorts of passports that are issued by the Ministry of Internal Affairs: temporary and ordinary. The first are not used as identification documents for nationality but rather for travel and foreigner identification. The UAE resident passport is valid for six months with the option of renewal, however it does not grant the same advantages or benefits as those granted to the nation’s citizens.
If a special committee at the Ministry of Interior rules in favor, a citizen of the United Arab Emirates can get their regular passport by marriage, naturalization after 30 years, or by virtue of their parentage. With the exception of the right to vote in state elections and run for office, the document grants the foreigner all the rights of a native resident. Although a temporary passport has a similar appearance to a regular passport, it does not grant the holder any additional privileges inside the nation.
6. Nationality By Law
Every Arab who has lived in one of the UAE emirates from 1925 or earlier to 1972 was legally granted nationality when the emirates united to form a single nation in 1971. The families of these people are now also eligible for this sort of nationality.
Newborns are nonetheless subject to nationality legislation. Regardless of where they are born, in the UAE or elsewhere, children born to an Emirati father are legally entitled to nationality. As long as the child is maintained by their father, the same regulations apply to children of Emirati women.
Children who are born in the UAE are also eligible to be granted nationality by law even if they are born to unknown parents or to fathers of unknown citizenships. However, the proof of birth in the UAE is required for the child to apply for UAE citizenship.
7. Nationality By Citizenship
For foreign women who marry citizens of the UAE, nationality is determined by citizenship. The Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship (ICA) is the place where wives of UAE citizens can apply for citizenship. Typically, nationality is granted to them seven years after the application is submitted.