According to the new circular issued by the United Arab Emirates Ministry of Justice, changes and amends to the UAE Citizenship Act are demonstrated, allowing a foreign expat to become a permanent, official citizen.
As per the new amends, entrepreneurs, professionals, investors of any nationality can become official citizens of the UAE, however, there are a few conditions.
The conditions are that only those who renounce their original nationality and passport, and gain fluency in Arabic are eligible for an Emirati citizenship.
Last year in 2019, a long-term residency visa system was introduced in the UAE which did not give citizenship or Emirati status to expats, however, according to the new amendments, that is not the case anymore.
Image Source: The National
The long term residency visa system gave the expat the right to stay in the UAE for 5 to 10 years, which was then renewed automatically if the set of conditions were met (conditions given below); this was mostly a practice for expats who were investors, professionals, entrepreneurs etc. However, granting citizenship was not part of the special residency system.
These are the conditions for granting citizenship in the UAE:
- To renounce his/her original nationality or any other nationality he holds.
- That he has not been convicted of a felony or misdemeanor that violates honour or trust unless he/she is rehabilitated.
- To have a lawful and continuous residence in the country.
- To have a legitimate means of subsistence.
- To be proficient in the Arabic language.
- To be of good conduct.
- To have an academic qualification.
- To swear an oath of allegiance to the UAE.
- To obtain security approval.
- That he has not been convicted of a felony or misdemeanour that violates honour or trust unless he/she is rehabilitated.
- Those wishing to undertake an Emirati citizenship MUST renounce their original nationality.
In addition, this New system permits UAE residents, expats and their families who want to come live, study or work in the UAE, enjoy a long term residency without the requirement of an Emirati sponsor.
100% ownership will be provided within the country emirates; this is unlike the previous customs where there was a need for a local partner to have a share of atleast 51% in the investments or business within the UAE.
EU Passport
One of the most desirable documents in the world is an EU passport and it is near to impossible to put a pricetag on it. However, Cyprus has managed to make it sellable only if you invest €2.2m in the island- if you do so, a Cypriot passport of EU citizenship can be yours.
Similarly, for Malta; if you invest over €1m, in the country you can get a EU passport with all its benefits. This policy is feasible for anyone who is tired of travelling with papers that open very limited country options.
However, there are a few disagreements to this scheme, as the European Commission’s president in a recent speech, referred to such “golden passports” as “one of a list of threats to the rule of law in Europe.”
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