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Updated August 2024
With the UAE offering numerous avenues for ex-pats to live and work in the country, many are looking to seize the opportunity to become citizens of the Gulf state. However, since the state is responsible for the general safety and welfare of its citizens, the UAE has put in place a system to properly determine the eligibility of individuals seeking to obtain citizenship.
Wego has compiled information about UAE citizenship, including categories, benefits, and more.
Table of Contents
UAE citizenship for ex-pats
The UAE adopts the jus sanguinis principle, which acknowledges someone’s nationality based on the citizenship of their parents rather than the place of birth. This means that being born in the UAE does not automatically confer citizenship. However, it is very much possible for ex-pats to obtain UAE citizenship by satisfying specific requirements, as detailed below.
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UAE citizenship requirements
There are numerous ways of obtaining Emirati citizenship, such as marriage, naturalization, investment, or special merits. Below are the details of the conditions for obtaining UAE citizenship:
UAE citizenship by descent
Being born in the UAE alone is not sufficient to claim citizenship. To be considered for citizenship, an individual must be:
- From a long-term Arab settler family in the UAE. This refers to a family of Arab descent who had lived there before 1925 and remained until 1972
- From an Emirati father in the country or abroad
- From an Emirati mother in the country or abroad, without a legally established fatherhood – or with a stateless father
- From unknown parents in the country, meaning children born on UAE whose parents’ identity has yet to be established. In this case, they are UAE citizens until proven otherwise
Additionally, an Emirati mother may now confer Emirati nationality to her children once they reach six years of age.
UAE citizenship by marriage
An Emirati woman’s foreign spouse may be eligible for citizenship after residing in the UAE for at least seven years of marriage. The waiting period is reduced to seven years if they have a child. However, the waiting period is ten years if they have no children.
For further information about UAE marriage citizenship, you can refer to our dedicated article below:
UAE citizenship by naturalization
A foreigner can acquire citizenship in the UAE if they meet the following requirements:
- Arab descendants: Individuals of Arab descent with ancestral roots in Bahrain, Oman, or Qatar, who have legally resided in the UAE for at least three years, and maintain a good reputation are eligible for citizenship
- Long-term residents: Arabs with full legal capacity and at least seven years of continuous legal residence in the UAE, with a lawful income, good conduct, and a clean criminal record, can apply for citizenship
- Long-term residents with Arabic proficiency: Individuals with Arabic proficiency who have legally resided in the UAE since 1940 or for at least 30 years after the implementation of the 1972 law and maintain a good reputation and clean criminal record are eligible for citizenship
Citizenship will be approved after a thorough background check and a formal citizenship ceremony in which the individual swears allegiance to the United Arab Emirates.
UAE citizenship by investment
Those who invest in the UAE are eligible to apply for citizenship. To obtain citizenship, the investors reserve the option to invest in public or real estate investments. The investment requirements are as follows:
- A public investment worth at least AED 10,000,000 or USD 2,300,000
- Purchasing a real estate property with a minimum value of AED 1,000,000 or USD 273,000
- Investing in a business project with a minimum capital of AED 500,000 or USD 136,129
UAE citizenship by special merits
UAE citizenship is attainable for applicants with exceptional merits in the following categories:
- Doctors, qualified specialists, or physicians specialized in a scientific discipline of high demand in the UAE with acknowledged scientific contributions and a minimum practical experience of 10 years. They must hold a membership in a reputed organization in their fields and provide essential contributions to ongoing scientific research
- Inventors with at least one patent approved by the UAE Ministry of Economy or another reputable international organization. They also must have a recommendation from the Ministry of Economy and own a property in the UAE
- Scientists with 10 years of experience holding a reference letter from a reputed academic institution. They must be active researchers at a university, research center or private sector. They are also required to have a minimum of one international award for their contribution to vital research in the last ten years
- Creative talents/individuals with at least one prestigious international award, a recommendation letter from a government agency in their related field, innovative and inventive traits, and one or more patents
To obtain citizenship, the eligible candidates will have to take the oath of allegiance and loyalty to the UAE, commit to abide by the UAE’s laws, and inform the UAE government if they want to acquire or renounce other citizenship
UAE citizenship benefits
With almost 90% of its population consisting of ex-pats, it is clear that being a UAE citizen comes with its set of advantages. The benefits include the following:
- The possibility of keeping one’s previous passport, which is not permitted in any other nation
- Visa-free travel to at least 185 countries
- No personal income tax. Additionally, private individuals can file their taxes
- The possibility of buying a property and starting a business in Dubai
- The possibility of gaining UAE dual citizenship
UAE dual citizenship
According to the latest regulation, the UAE allows individuals granted UAE citizenship to retain their previous citizenship. As such, the UAE allows for dual citizenship, provided the individual’s country of origin permits it.
