5 ways to become a citizen of the United Arab Emirates
A significant part of the population of the United Arab Emirates is made up of people from other countries. Economic prosperity, a high standard of living, advanced medicine, quality education, a lenient tax regime, unique business opportunities and, finally, a warm climate and sea all year round attract expats from all over the world to the Emirates.
According to some data, the share of immigrants in the population of the UAE is more than 84 per cent. Natives in this state are only 12 per cent.
To study, work or do business in the Emirates, most foreign nationals apply for a residence permit. On the basis of one of the long-term visa categories, an immigrant can stay in the United Arab Emirates from 1 to 10 years, with the possibility of extension.
Obtaining a UAE passport is much more difficult, as prospective subjects must meet very strict requirements. For the most part, expats are content with a residence permit. They may live in the Emirates for many years but never obtain citizenship.
A United Arab Emirates passport is essential for those entrepreneurs who have a future in this country, plan to make it their new home, and expect to enjoy the additional benefits of a second citizenship.
Advantages of UAE citizenship
Favourable working conditions
Despite state support and many privileges, a significant proportion of Emirati citizens prefer to work. Less than 10 per cent of subjects do not work anywhere.
According to the rules in force in the country, when recruiting staff, a business owner must give preference to UAE nationals. As a rule, a national earns 2-3 times more than an immigrant in exactly the same position.
Only citizens can work in the government of the United Arab Emirates. And those nationals with 20 years of service will be able to retire when they reach the age of 49.
Opportunity to study for free and receive quality health care
The state provides young citizens with free school and university education, including education abroad. With a passport from this country, you can receive free medical care and, if necessary, go abroad for treatment. And the UAE government will reimburse a significant part of your expenses.
Favourable taxation
Emirati citizens do not pay income tax. Immovable property, dividends, gifts and inheritance are also not subject to tax.
Moreover, nationals who are employed do not need to complete and submit a tax return. The same rule applies to individual entrepreneurs and the self-employed.
More than 100 jurisdictions have signed international double tax treaties with the UAE. These countries include: UK, Canada, New Zealand, India, Sri Lanka, Thailand and the UK.
Assistance from the state
A United Arab Emirates passport holder is exempt from paying utility bills if these costs are within the limit set by the authorities. But even if the utility bills exceed this minimum, the citizen pays only a part of the amount.
If two UAE nationals marry, the state pays a large cash allowance to the newlyweds. The exact amount and method of receiving this benefit depends on the Emirate.
When a young family gives birth to a child, they can also count on government assistance. Firstly, a monthly allowance of 3,500 dirhams ($ 953) per month. Secondly, the family can be provided with a subsidy, a house or a plot of land for construction.
It is important to note that Emirati nationals receive significantly fewer benefits if they marry a foreign woman.
Business opportunities
Foreign entrepreneurs with a UAE passport can register companies throughout the country without any restrictions, not excluding free economic zones.
Passport for the whole family
The United Arab Emirates authorities have a relaxed attitude towards citizens with multiple passports if they have obtained their status for investment or professional achievements.
Moreover, if the immigration authorities of that country deem it possible to grant you citizenship, your wife and children can also apply for this honourable status.
Freedom of movement around the world
In international rankings designed to assess the strength of a jurisdiction’s passport, the main document of a citizen of the United Arab Emirates takes honourable 8th place. This means that UAE citizens can cross the borders of 184 countries of the world without a visa or with a visa on arrival.
In China and Japan, an Emirates passport will allow you to stay up to 30 days without any additional authorisation. And in the UK, UAE citizens can stay up to 180 days a year.
How to obtain citizenship of the United Arab Emirates
If we were able to convince you of the need to obtain UAE citizenship, it remains only to figure out how to do it for a resident of a foreign country. There are at least 5 ways to become the owner of the coveted blue passport with a golden falcon.
Naturalisation
This is probably the longest immigration route possible, as most foreigners take a long 30 years. Let us consider a common option of obtaining citizenship through naturalisation:
- A wealthy foreigner applies for a UAE Golden Visa. The basis for this prestigious visa category, valid for 10 years, can be the purchase of expensive real estate in the country – a house or apartments, worth 2 million dirhams or more;
- Since the investor has moved to live and work in the Emirates for a long time and remains the owner of the purchased housing, he extends his Golden Visa 2 more times for 10 years;
- After 30 years of residence in the country, an immigrant becomes eligible to apply for citizenship. However, it should be remembered that long residence in the UAE is not the only condition for successful naturalisation.
What other requirements do immigration authorities have for a prospective UAE citizen?
- It is necessary to be fluent in Arabic.
- The applicant must have a crystal-clear reputation, with no dark spots. No criminal convictions or documented substantial violations of the law are allowed.
- An applicant for citizenship must have a university degree.
- A potential Emirati citizen must provide documents proving that he or she has legitimate sources of income.
Marriage to a UAE national
This option of obtaining citizenship is available only for women. In this case, the basis for obtaining a passport will be to be married to an Emirati citizen for 7 years if the couple has a common child, and for 10 years if there are no children.
The requirements for such an applicant are not so strict. For example, she will not need to prove higher education.
Please note that in this case, the foreign spouse will have to renounce her first citizenship in order to obtain a UAE passport. Women who have obtained citizenship as the spouse of an Emirati resident cannot in principle hold a second passport. The death of their husband will not deprive them of their status as a citizen of the United Arab Emirates, but they risk losing it if they subsequently marry a foreigner or apply for naturalisation in another country.
Citizenship for children
The child has the right to obtain UAE citizenship:
- if his father and/or mother are citizens of that country;
- on reaching the age of 18, if his parents have undergone the naturalisation procedure;
- If a child residing in the Emirates does not know who his/her parents are and they cannot be identified.
The mere fact of birth in Dubai, Abu Dhabi or in any other emirate of the country of a child of foreign nationals does not entitle the child to automatic citizenship.
Citizenship for investment
The possibility to obtain citizenship of the United Arab Emirates for investments appeared in 2021. The main condition is the purchase of residential or commercial property on the territory of one of the emirates.
The minimum investment required to obtain a UAE passport is not regulated by official documents. Moreover, the purchase of property in the Emirates is a key condition for obtaining a long-term visa:
- By spending 750,000 ($ 204,193 ) dirhams on housing, you can get a 2 year visa;
- Rich foreign pensioners are granted a valid 5-year visa if they buy a property worth AED 1 million ($ 272,257) or more;
- By investing AED 2 million ($ 544,514) or more in real estate, you can qualify for a UAE Golden Visa, which is valid for 10 years.
Although, as stated, the size of the minimum investment in Emirates property required to obtain citizenship is not regulated, we already have actual data. The passport of the United Arab Emirates could be obtained by those foreign investors who purchased real estate property worth more than 10 million dirhams on the territory of this wonderful country.
If you are ready to invest in your second citizenship an amount equivalent to 2.73 million US dollars, our staff will help you find the most interesting properties in the UAE!
Citizenship for special achievements
This immigration route also came into existence in 2021. By granting citizenship, the authorities attract to the UAE experienced professionals with significant professional merit in their field – outstanding scientists, inventors, engineers, doctors, athletes, intellectuals and artists.
There are a number of requirements for each of the categories listed:
- The doctor must specialise in a field of medicine that is in high demand in the United Arab Emirates. The prerequisites are extensive experience in the specialty (at least 10 years), as well as scientific contributions to the development of their discipline recognised by authoritative specialty organisations. International awards, membership of international professional associations, etc. are encouraged;
- Engineers and technicians can apply for UAE citizenship under roughly the same conditions as doctors. Their industry or scientific discipline must be in demand in the country. Experience of 10 years or more and innovation – having internationally recognised achievements – are also important selection criteria;
- The scientist must be engaged in active research under the auspices of a university, research centre or private organisation. Strong arguments in favour of such an applicant are more than 10 years of practical experience and a significant contribution to development in the same scientific field in which he/she conducts his/her research. To obtain citizenship, a scientist will need a letter of recommendation from one of the recognised scientific communities or organisations in the Emirates;
- The inventor must have one or more patents officially registered in the Emirates or internationally. The foreign inventor will also need a letter of recommendation from the UAE Ministry of Economy;
- Intellectuals and people of creative professions can count on Emirati citizenship only if they are recognised leaders in their field, which is confirmed by at least one international award in the field of culture or art. Outstanding athletes are assessed on approximately the same principle. This category also requires letters of recommendation from the relevant government agencies of the United Arab Emirates.
If you have achieved international recognition in your profession and are eligible to apply for UAE citizenship, but are having difficulty gathering supporting documents and/or obtaining a letter of recommendation, Imperial & Legal will come to your aid.
UAE citizenship process for investors
In our case study, we take a step-by-step look at the immigration route for an investor from the first consultation to obtaining a United Arab Emirates passport.
The process of obtaining UAE citizenship is divided into several stages:
- If you have grounds to apply for Emirati nationality, you can submit an application in the prescribed form and the relevant documents to the ICP. The Federal Office, in turn, appoints an Advisory Board to review the application and the security service carries out a verification of the applicant’s identity.
- The Advisory Board reviews the submitted documents and gives preliminary approval if the foreign applicant fulfils one of the categories of potential citizens.
- The applicant is then reviewed by another, this time by the Federal Advisory Council, which includes one representative from each emirate. Only applicants who have passed a security check and have been pre-approved reach this stage.
- After the Federal Advisory Council makes a favourable decision, the applicant takes the oath of allegiance to the State at a special ceremony and undertakes not to violate the laws of the Emirates.
- Citizenship of the United Arab Emirates is granted upon successful completion of all the previously listed steps. A corresponding entry is made in the Nationality Register with your data. ICP makes a new residence card, with which you will have access to almost all the benefits of the new status.
Since 2021, it has been mandatory for new citizens to renounce their first citizenship. An exception is made only for investors and foreigners with outstanding professional achievements. In any case, you should notify the UAE authorities of your second citizenship or renunciation of it.
Passport issuance (up to 48 hours to obtain an e-passport)
You need an Emirates passport to visit 184 states without a visa, open bank accounts and register companies abroad.
The passport application is submitted separately and, depending on the Emirate, the procedure can take from one working day to 15-20 minutes.
A UAE passport is valid for 5 years and, unlike an ID, it cannot be renewed. In other words, you will need to get a new document before it becomes expired.
Obtain United Arab Emirates citizenship with Imperial & Legal!
If you are not ready to obtain citizenship status through the naturalisation process, there are 2 quicker ways – through large investments in real estate or for special merit. Both routes involve careful paperwork and close co-operation with the UAE immigration authorities. Therefore, to apply for an Emirates passport without the hassle and unforeseen costs, seek professional advice from Imperial & Legal!
