On 30 January 2021, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai announced on Twitter that government of the United Arab Emirates is making UAE citizenship available to individuals with extraordinary talents including doctors, inventors, artists, engineers, scientists, authors, and their families. With the scheme, the UAE government hopes to attract the brightest talents in support of the growth and development of the United Arab Emirates.
The UAE administration has amended its Executive Regulation of the Federal Law regarding citizenship. Striving to attract skilled individuals, the government has introduced a new citizenship scheme. Subject to certain conditions, talented individuals can now secure UAE citizenship. On Twitter, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed stated:
“We adopted law amendments that allow granting the UAE citizenship to investors, specialized talents & professionals including scientists, doctors, engineers, artists, authors and their families. The new directives aim to attract talents that contribute to our development journey.”
The experts seeking UAE citizenship through the new scheme must secure a nomination from Rulers and Crown Princes Courts, Executive Council or the UAE Cabinet in line with federal entities nominations. The families of skilled individuals are also eligible for Emirati citizenship. Specific criteria apply for each category, as alluded to by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed on Twitter:
“The UAE cabinet, local Emiri courts & executive councils will nominate those eligible for the citizenship under clear criteria set for each category. The law allows receivers of the UAE passport to keep their existing citizenship.“
Nationality Controls and Benefits – Conditions for granting citizenship
In general, doctors and scientists need to display extensive experience as well as recognition within their fields. Inventors ought to secure UAE patents, and artists or authors must have won awards or pioneered creative ideas. For each category, guidelines apply with skilled individuals seeking to avail of the scheme needing to meet all the category-specific criteria.
Here are the conditions for each category:
Scientists
To qualify, a scientist must be actively partaking in research in the private sector or at a university. Moreover, she/he must have at least 10 years’ experience as well as a letter of recommendation from a scientific institution in the UAE. The authorities would also like to see prestigious awards and a strong track record in securing funding.
Inventors
Apart from a letter of recommendation from the UAE Economy Ministry, inventors must furnish one or several patents approved by a well-known international organization or by the Emirati Economy Ministry.
Doctors
Doctors and medical specialists must demonstrate expertise in an area of need in the UAE. Furthermore, they must have made recognized scientific contributions in study or research and demonstrate at least ten years’ of experience. Lastly, doctors need to give evidence of membership in a field-specific medical organization.
Artists and Authors
Only artists and authors who have won one or several awards and pioneered art in their field are eligible. Moreover, they will need a letter of recommendation from a relevant government agency.
Once applicants receive approval, they need to swear the oath of allegiance and commit to abide by the Emirati laws. The UAE government revokes citizenship if an individual breaches the rules.
UAE citizenship comes with significant benefits, including the right to own commercial or residential property alongside all other Emirati citizens rights.
United Arab Emirates Citizenship Benefits
A UAE passport ranks among the highest in the world with visa-free access to over 170 countries worldwide. The UAE government wants to make the Emirati passport the number one passport in the world.
Apart from diverse investment and business opportunities, UAE citizens have one of the best infrastructures at their disposal. Education and healthcare a top class, and UAE citizens can avail of treatments and schooling free of charge. University students are eligible for government grants, while primary and secondary education is free. If a specific health treatment is not available, the UAE government sponsors treatment abroad.
UAE passport holders also enjoy easier access to top jobs, interest-free loans for government-funded housing.
With all these benefits, the United Arab Emirate administration is attracting many high-skilled, wealthy individuals. As an added bonus, new UAE passport holders can hold onto their former citizenship and become dual citizens.
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