Saudi Press

Saudi Arabia and the world
Sunday, Jun 01, 2025

UAE To Offer Citizenship and Long-Stay Visa To Select Expats In Brilliant Move For Gulf

The UAE announced it is opening a path to citizenship for select talented foreigners, as well as golden retirement and digital nomads 10 years visa in a rare and brilliant move for the Gulf where the status and its welfare benefits are jealously guarded. This move will level up the whole country status, talents, productivity, creativity and income. UAE can now attract US and EU entrepreneurs as the country offers better taxes (zero), better security (100%), and the best health care and education systems in the world.
Dubai ruler and United Arab Emirates (UAE) Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashed Al-Maktoum said "investors, specialised talents and professionals including scientists, doctors, engineers, artists, authors and their families" would be eligible for naturalisation under the new amendment.

The UAE announced Saturday it is opening a path to citizenship for select foreigners, in a rare move for the Gulf where the status and its welfare benefits are jealously guarded.

Dubai ruler and United Arab Emirates (UAE) Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashed Al-Maktoum said "investors, specialised talents and professionals including scientists, doctors, engineers, artists, authors and their families" would be eligible for naturalisation under the new amendment.

"The UAE cabinet, local emiri courts and executive councils will nominate those eligible for the citizenship under clear criteria set for each category," Sheikh Mohammed said.

"The law allows receivers of the UAE passport to keep their existing citizenship."

The UAE government said the amendment to the citizenship law "aims at appreciating the talents and competencies present in the UAE and attracting more bright minds to the Emirati community".

Citizens make up a small minority of the population of the UAE, which has a huge migrant labour force, largely from south Asia, some of whom are second or third generation residents.

The UAE also has a growing community of wealthy expats attracted by the low tax regime and the luxury megaprojects and tourist attractions of the larger emirates.

The wealthy oil states of the Gulf have long guaranteed their citizens a high standard of living through reserved jobs and a cradle to grave welfare system.

To protect it, they have seldom allowed naturalisations.
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