Those who are eligible for Emirati Passport include foreign investors, scientists, doctors, artists and talented people as well as their families.

So, it turns out that the UAE has decided to give its passport to people with special talents in addition to their families. The UAE aims to enhance the overall national development process through making these people part of the society.

The requirements to receive Emirati passport

Here is the list of those who are eligible for Emirati passport:

Investors: Are required to own a property in the UAE

Medical doctors and skilled professionals: Must be specialised in a specific scientific field that is needed by the UAE. They must have contributed to studies and research that have scientific value in their field, have 10 years of experience in that field in addition to a membership in a prestigious professional organisation in his field.

Scientists: Need to be an active researcher in their field at a university, a research institute or the private sector. Also, they must have 10 years of experience in that field, have scientific contributions- including having won a prestigious scientific award. Having secured a significant funding for their research for 10 years, in addition to a recommendation letter from a credited scientific institute in the UAE. This is the path to the Emirati passport for scientists.

Talented people:

Inventors: Having had at least one patent certified by the UAE Ministry of Economy or any accredited relevant international body, which has a real value to the UAE economy, in addition to a recommendation letter from the UAE Ministry of Economy is a must.

Intellectuals and artists: they must show special talent in culture, arts and other talents with at least one international award in those talents. A recommendation letter from the UAE relevant bodies is also needed.

Conditions

The terms and conditions of getting Citizenship of the UAE include:

• The oath and swearing in allegiance to the UAE
• A pledge to uphold and respect the laws of the country
• Informing the relevant authority if they get a new citizenship or lost one

What are the rights of new citizens?

The rights of those who are granted the UAE citizenship under the new law include:

• The right to establish and own companies in the UAE
• The right to buy and own land and real estate property in the country
• Any other right extend to them by the federal bodies, with the approval of the Cabinet, or by local government bodies

According to the decision, the UAE citizenship can be stripped from those categories in such cases as the violation of the legal commitment or losing at least one of the conditions upon which a person was granted the citizenship.

What is the mechanism of receiving passport?

The new law specified the citizenship process that says those qualified for the citizenship would be nominated through the Emirates’ rulers court, the courts of the crown princes executive council in an emirate or the cabinet.

This decision is one of the most important changes to citizenship and nationality laws. It is interesting to note that the movement is a milestone in the Arab world, which usually restrict the naturalisation process to a very limited cases and mostly bans dual citizenship.

But this is not the only decision that was taken to ensure the social stability of those with long time residency in the country and those who contribute to the wellbeing and development of the society through. The movement was the introduction of the permanent residency scheme in 2019, which allowed for granting 5 and 10 year ‘Golden Visas’ to certain categories of residents.

Thousands of people have been given the Gold Visa in the past two years, including investors, medical professionals, engineers, scientists and special talents.

The new changes put the UAE on par with many developed countries that appreciate the talents of expatriates by awarding them the citizenship. This initiative ensures their social stability. It also secures a future for them and their families in the country.

All of these decisions are made to make the UAE a better place not only for the residents, but also for the expatriates that have moved to the country!