According to statistics, in 2020, the population of the UAE amounted to almost 10 million people, of which only 12% were citizens of the country, the rest are immigrants. This fact confirms two things: many people strive to live and work in the Emirates, and the government strongly encourages the influx of specialists, and it is extremely difficult to obtain citizenship. The number of Russians who want to permanently move to a stable, economically developed and warm country is growing every year. But most of them would like to become full members of society. This article is about how to get a UAE passport and why you can lose it.
Advantages of UAE citizenship
- The UAE passport ranks first in respectability in the Arab world and 13th in the world ranking. It allows you to travel freely around the world, crossing the borders of 175 countries without a visa.
- Working in the same positions with migrants, despite the same responsibilities and workload, citizens of the federation by law receive a salary 2-3 times higher.
- Indigenous Arabs do not work at all in middle and lower-level positions, they occupy only the highest leadership positions. Everything else is for immigrants.
- The retirement age comes at 49 years old with 20 years of work experience.
- Local residents receive impressive subsidies to pay for utilities, for medical care, which turns out to be almost free. According to an unwritten law, indigenous people should not need anything throughout their lives. The state takes care of this by constantly supporting its subjects with benefits, bonuses, compensations, etc.
- At the birth of a child, the government pays $ 100,000, and also allocates a plot of land (in some emirates, a house).
- Citizenship gives the right to free education not only in schools and universities of your country, but in almost any educational institution in the world: everything is paid by the state.
- Graduates are supported in finding a suitable place of work and employment.
Maintaining such a high standard of living of the local population is possible due to strict requirements for foreigners wishing to become full subjects of the state. At the same time, the authorities are constantly tightening the requirements. Even after receiving a passport, there are many reasons why you can lose it.
Ways to obtain UAE citizenship
There are several ways to legally obtain citizenship of the United Arab Emirates. However, they all require the fulfillment of difficult conditions.
For investment
This is the easiest, but expensive way to obtain citizenship. By law, entrepreneurs and investors who have invested a certain amount of money in real estate or the economy can become passport holders. The investor has the right to choose one of several investment options:
- buy one or more real estate objects worth at least 2 million dirhams;
- invest in a local investment fund;
- open a new business;
- establish an enterprise that will pay taxes to the local Tax Service;
- buy shares of an existing or new company.
The money that is supposed to be invested in the economy of the Emirates should not be a loan or be pledged. They must be paid out of personal funds and immediately.
Usually, for such investments, the state offers a «Golden Visa» – a long-term residence permit with a five- or ten-year term. However, if the investments are large enough, then you can get citizenship in this way. That’s just the amount for which it can, in fact, be bought, is kept secret. Each case is considered individually.
Citizenship to doctors, scientists, other specialists and talented people
The Government of the Federation actively attracts professionals from all over the world for the development of certain sectors of the economy, offering them wide preferential working and living conditions. These include:
- Doctors who work on the most acute medical problems and have at least 10 years of practical work experience. Priority is given to physicians engaged in the development of therapeutic techniques against HIV, malignant neoplasms, as well as working in the field of virology, epidemiology, and some other areas.
- Scientists with a worldwide reputation, a doctorate, holders of prestigious world prizes, who have made breakthrough discoveries in their field.
- Engineers and inventors who have patents and work in priority sectors for the UAE: electronics and electrical engineering, IT, telecommunications development and artificial intelligence.
- Talented people from the fields of cultural and social life: artists, designers, fashion designers, singers, actors, athletes, social activists.
For special services to the Arab Emirates, or if the state is interested in granting citizenship, any of the above-described specialists can obtain a UAE passport.
Through marriage
This option is suitable only for women. A man who has married a local resident will not receive citizenship.
If a girl married a citizen of the UAE, then to obtain citizenship she will have to:
- give up your passport;
- convert to Islam;
- learn Arabic;
- get the consent of all your husband’s relatives;
- get permission from the UAE Interior Ministry.
The rules are constantly being tightened. Previously, the list of conditions included living in the territory of the Emirates in a legal marriage for at least 3 years, then the term was increased to 5 years, now it is up to 7 years. At the same time, a condition was added that the couple had at least 2 children in marriage.
By origin
The child of a local applicant (male) automatically receives citizenship, regardless of which country he was born in. By law, citizenship is assigned by the father, but if he is unknown, and the mother is a citizen of the Arab Emirates, the child will also become a citizen. Citizenship will also be granted to a baby who was born on the territory of the federation, but his parents, which means the origin, could not be established.
Naturalization
This is an opportunity to obtain a passport of a citizen of the United Arab Emirates, having lived on the territory of the federation for a certain number of years: for immigrants from Arab states – 7 years, for other foreigners, including Russians, Ukrainians, Belarusians – 30 years.
It is necessary to meet a number of criteria that will be checked and rechecked:
- be fluent in Arabic;
- have a stable high income;
- do not have a criminal record and evidence of violation of the law for the entire period of stay in the UAE;
- have a high reputation, which must not be witnessed less than two citizens of the federation.
But even if all the points are met, there are no guarantees.
Acquisition of UAE citizenship through other Arab states
Citizens of friendly Arab Muslim countries – Kuwait, Oman, Bahrain – are more likely to get a UAE passport. It is enough for them to live on the territory of any emirate for 3 years, have a legal job, housing and comply with the law. For Arabs from other countries, the period of residence increases to 10 years, but if the merits or professional skills are great, then 7 years is enough.
Grounds for refusal of citizenship
- Work in the interests of a hostile state.
- The presence of citizenship of another state.
- Service in the army of another country without the consent of local authorities.
- Conducting activities that threaten the security of the federation.
- Forgery of documents and fraud during naturalization.
- Living abroad for no good reason for more than 4 years.
African Americans, as well as Chinese, Hindus, and Jews cannot count on obtaining a passport. At the same time, they can all live and work in the country on a residence permit.
Why are they deprived of citizenship
- The presence of other citizenship.
- The commission of illegal actions by persons who have obtained citizenship through naturalization.
- If a woman received citizenship by her husband, divorced and remarried a citizen of another country.
- If the woman’s first husband can prove that she married him fictitiously.
- If a woman received citizenship by her husband, but after his death decided to restore the original citizenship.
Dual citizenship
By law, dual citizenship is prohibited, but there are exceptions. If citizenship is acquired by investing in real estate, then the original citizenship is allowed to remain.
What kind of passports are there
The UAE Ministry of Internal Affairs issues 2 types of passports – temporary and ordinary. Temporary ones are valid for 6 months, do not give any benefits and privileges due to indigenous people, do not prove nationality, are not an attribute of a citizen, but identify a person and allow you to travel. After six months, it must be extended.
An ordinary passport is issued upon naturalization, on the basis of marriage, provided that all requirements are met and gives the holder all the rights of an indigenous resident, with the exception of the right to vote during election campaigns.
How else can I immigrate to Dubai and the Arab Emirates
It is much easier to move to Dubai or another emirate by enrolling in school or getting a job. This will allow you to obtain a residence permit with the right to extend. Most foreigners live like this all their lives. They earn well, work hard and live in comfortable conditions, enjoy all the benefits of this highly developed state and do not think about how to get a UAE passport.
Every student enrolled in a local university is granted a student visa for one year, which can be extended. To receive it, the applicant must provide documents confirming admission, the source of funding (parents, sponsors, state, university) and a medical examination.
Remote work or work in a company. In the first case, with a confirmed income of $ 5,000 and an employment contract, a residence permit is provided for one year. In the second case, a residence permit will be provided for 2 years.
Residency can be issued if you purchase real estate or invest in a business.
Back