How to get a UAE

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In order to boost its own economy, back in January

2021, the UAE introduced amendments to the
Executive Regulation of the Federal Law regarding
Nationality and Passports; enabling professionals,
investors, special talents and their families to obtain
Emirati citizenship under specific conditions. This
step is expected to attain the competencies and
talents already present in the UAE and encourage
more bright minds to relocate to the UAE and
promote the prosperity of the country.

The categories which are eligible for obtaining

Emirati citizenship are as follows: investors,
inventors, talents, intellectuals, artists, doctors and
their families (a spouse and children). The
amendments do not interfere with visa holders’
current and original nationality.

It is worth noting that the procedure of acquiring

citizenship in the UAE is very complex, even if you
meet all the requirements regarding the
professional experience. The most important part
of the procedure is to be nominated by the Rulers
and Crown Princes Courts, Executive Councils, and
the Cabinet, which is not easy to do. Although our
real estate agency does not provide services
regarding Emirati citizenship, we can help you
acquire a Golden Visa residency through real
estate investment, with a minimum qualifying
amount of AED 2M (USD 545K). Introduced back in
2019, the Golden Visa scheme enables its holders to
live, work and study in the UAE without the need for
local sponsorship, and subsequently enjoy all the
perks of having an Emirates ID.

Usually, legitimate long-haul stay for foreigners is

restricted for 2-3 years. This is the duration of the
general working visa with the possibility of
extension. The launch of the long-term visa
programme (for 5-10 years) in 2019 was a new step
to ease the immigration regime. They can be issued
to investors as well as holders of academic degrees,
specialists in certain professions that are in demand
in the Emirate and students of marketing. It is worth
noting that long-term visas can include family
members (husbands/wives and children under 18
years).

Previously, UAE citizenship could only be obtained in

3 cases:

Marriage of a UAE citizen and a non-citizen

woman. However, to apply for citizenship, the
marriage must last at least 7 years.
Naturalization. This method provides that a
citizen of a foreign state must live for 30 years or
more in the territory of the Emirates. They must
also have a regular source of income in the UAE
and an unblemished reputation. They must be
fluent in Arabic and voluntarily renounce the
citizenship of another state.
Merits. Rarely, a foreigner can be honored to
receive a UAE passport from one of the heads of
the emirates. This procedure is authorized by the
decision of the UAE Government.

The law provisions as of January 2021 marked out

the new critical change to the previous naturalization
rule – the list of qualified residents was expanded
and double-citizenship was endorsed.

Why did the UAE decide to

grant citizenship to
foreigners?
The UAE government is interested in attracting
bright minds for the further development of the
state with the reason for this, for its "Plan of the
Century". By its 100th anniversary in 2071, the UAE
intends to become a leading country in the world, so
the state is investing in four main areas: education,
economy, governance and social life.

Who may get UAE

citizenship and a passport?
New provisions identify categories of foreigners who
can apply for UAE citizenship:

Physicians and highly qualified specialists

Must specialize in a unique scientific discipline

with evidence of techniques in demand in the
UAE.
Must have a recognized scientific contribution for
ongoing research of scientific value.
Have professional experience of at least 10 years.
Be a member of a reputable organization in their
field of scientific specialization.

Scientists

At least 10 years of academic and professional

experience.
Candidates must have had an active research
career in higher education, a research center or in
the private sector.
Having won at least one prestigious international
award for their contribution to scholarship or
having received a significant research grant in the
last decade.
Provide a letter of reference from a recognized
academic institution.

Inventors

Provide a letter of recommendation from the

Ministry of Economy.
Have at least one patent approved by the UAE
Ministry of Economy or a reputable international
body.

Individuals with creative talents

Must be an innovator in their field.

Have at least one patented invention registered
with any internationally recognized organization.
Have one or more international awards for
achievements.
A letter of recommendation from a government
agency in their field.

Investors

The exact criteria have not yet been determined,

but it is likely to be long-term visa holders who
have made a significant contribution to real
estate and the economy of the UAE.

Close family members, namely spouses and children,

reserve the right to be included in the citizenship
application.

Foreign nationals (applicants) are required to take an

oath of allegiance to the state, strictly comply with
applicable law, as well as the accompanying rules
and norms of conduct. In addition, it is mandatory
that they must immediately inform the authorities of
the loss or acquisition of any other nationality.

Important! In case of non-compliance with the legal

obligations or not meeting the criteria for becoming
a UAE citizen, the citizenship will be automatically
revoked.

How to get UAE

citizenship?
Current legislation characterizes a few different
ways of becoming an Emirati resident: bylaw,
citizenship, or naturalization. The Federal Authority
for Identity and Citizenship handles all the related
issues.

Each applicant will be considered individually, under

the direction of the Federal Office of Identity and
Citizenship, a main advisory committee and
subcommittees are established to review
applications. These subcommittees are assigned to
specific regions and will be responsible for verifying
all data and for nominating candidates for citizenship
according to clear criteria for each category. They
also have the right to cross-check all data in greater
depth and may obtain additional expertise if
necessary.

There is currently no application procedure yet, but

there is a general principle for selecting candidates
which includes:

1. Every applicant will be considered individually.

Under the governance of the Federal Authority
for Identity and Citizenship, there will be the main
advisory committee and sub-committees
organized to examine applications.

2. Sub-committees attached to particular regions

will gather essential data and nominate those
qualified for citizenship under clear criteria set for
each category. They have a right to recheck all
data and appoint an extra examination if needed.

3. As soon as the application is approved, sub-

committees will forward this to the advisory
committee of 7 representatives (one per
Emirate). They will be responsible for the final
decision on granting UAE citizenship.

The perks of obtaining UAE

citizenship
In the Passport Global Index, the UAE passport ranks
13th in the world and allows you to freely enter 170
countries around the world. Its owners also have
numerous advantages, including:

The unconditional right to own commercial

enterprises and real estate in any of the zones of
the Emirate.
The possibility of free education and health care.
Subsidizing the cost of living and food.
Employment in public institutions.
Social security option.
The retirement age in the UAE is 49 years for
those who have at least 20 years of work
experience.

Frequently Asked
Questions
The new rules for obtaining citizenship in the
Emirates raise many questions. Below we have
given answers to some of the most common ones.

What are the conditions for

obtaining UAE citizenship?
Currently, only several categories of individuals can
get UAE citizenship, namely investors, qualified
specialists, inventors, scientists, and representatives
of creative professions. To apply for it, you must
meet the above-mentioned conditions.

How much should a person

invest to get UAE
citizenship?
The longest uninterrupted and legal stay in the UAE
is possible only with a long-term visa for 5-10 years,
or as it is also called the "golden visa". It can be
issued on condition of investment in the public
sector of the UAE of at least AED 10M (USD 2.7M).

This amount can be broken down as follows: 40% to

invest in the purchase of real estate in the Emirate
and the remaining 60% in things such as business
development, startups, etc.

It is also important that the specified amount should

not be as a loan and the property should be held by
the owner for at least three years.

Are there any other ways

to stay in the UAE for long?
There are several types of visas that allow foreigners
to live, work, and study in the UAE for several years
in a row without the support of a sponsor. In addition
to long-term visas, there are also retirement visas
and visas for remote work.

A retirement visa is valid for five years with a

possibility of renewal. To apply for it, you must meet
several criteria:

- age over 55 years

- valid UAE health insurance
- monthly income of at least AED 20,000 (USD
5,500)
- at least AED 1 million (USD 272,300) of savings or
real estate owned in the territory of the emirate
worth at least AED 2 million (USD 544,500)

Freelance visas give their holders the opportunity to

live in the Emirates for 1 year and at the same time
work remotely either in the UAE or in any other
country. Also, visa holders can enjoy a number of
benefits associated with living in the UAE, including
no income tax.

An important factor is that the level of income of the

applicant must be at least AED 19,000 (USD 5,200).

The Visa processing fee is AED 1,055 (USD 290).

Can a child born in the UAE

get citizenship?
Children can obtain UAE citizenship under the
following conditions:

Those whose parents are UAE citizens.

If the father is a UAE citizen and the mother is a
foreigner.
Children who were born in the UAE but whose
parents' identity is not established are UAE
citizens until proven otherwise.

Why is it difficult to get

UAE citizenship?
It's quite simple: UAE citizens receive benefits and
enormous support from the government. No taxes
on wages (for all: citizens and expats), help with
children's education and if you belong to a low-
income group - help from the government to buy a
car, free health care, housing loans and grants, etc.
Some of these tendencies are present in other
countries of the world too, but not at such a level as
in the Emirates. One of the main reasons for issuing
these benefits to its own nationals is the
government is trying to preserve the authenticity of
its native culture, the way of life and its language, as
the native population of the UAE is about 1.4M
people, which is just over 10% of the total population.

Who is eligible for the

citizenship of the UAE?
Since 2017 a UAE citizenship, if certain conditions
are met, almost anyone can obtain UAE citizenship,
although it is much more difficult than in Europe and
the United States.

To be eligible for UAE citizenship, a person needs to

be fluent in Arabic, outstanding good behavior and
reputation, have a legitimate income and hold
academic certificates. The candidates must not have
a criminal background and will need to provide
security approval. These individuals will have to
swear allegiance and comply with all applicable laws,
rules and regulations of the country.

By marriage. Only foreign women who are married

to UAE citizens can obtain a permanent residency
permit and then apply for citizenship. In this case,
after 7 years of marriage (from the date of
application, not from the date of marriage) and
having at least one child in the family, the husband
can apply for the naturalization of the wife. If there
are no children, this period is extended to 10 years.
The woman must also convert to Islam and be fluent
in Arabic.

Upon naturalization. In this case, residents who

have lived continuously in the UAE for more than 30
years can apply for citizenship. As stated earlier, the
applicant must have a perfect reputation, witnessed
by 1-2 persons of the UAE verbally or in writing and
provide all related documents. Fluency in Arabic is
also an important condition.

Is the UAE a rich country?

It is believed that all seven Emirates are prosperous
because the state is rich in oil and the income from
its production and sale is distributed among the
residents. However, the reality is quite different. In
the UAE, wealth is either inherited or created at the
expense of one's capabilities, like in any other
country. Each of the residents has their way of life
and their income.

If I become a UAE citizen

under the new
amendments, will I be able
to enjoy all the same
benefits as locals?
Unfortunately, there is no answer to this question
yet.

Key points
1. In January 2021 amendments to the UAE
Citizenship Law were adopted and now certain
categories of individuals can apply for a UAE
citizenship passport.
2. Previously, Emirati citizenship was granted
primarily on the basis of naturalization and Arab
origin. But now it can be granted to a wider range
of emigrants based on their experience and
contribution to the UAE.
3. These changes are helping to attract even more
investors and people of great ability in science
and medicine, inventors and those with creative
talents, such as intellectuals and artists.
4. UAE citizenship offers a range of benefits,
including visa-free travel to 170 countries, free
tuition and medical care, and the opportunity to
retire at the age of 49 with 20 years of work
experience in the state.
5. In addition to citizenship, foreign nationals can
apply for visas such as short-term or long-term
resident visas, retirement visas or freelance visas.

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