Can You Obtain Dubai Citizenship?

The UAE Government had approved amendments to the ‘Executive Regulation of the Citizenship and Passports Law’ in January 2021, which allows several categories of foreign nationals, their spouses and children to obtain Emirati citizenship. These amendments stipulate certain conditions for each category and allows the foreign national to obtain Emirati citizenship whilst retaining their original nationality. The following categories of foreigners can be nominated for UAE citizenship: doctors, investors, inventors, specialists, intellectuals, scientists, and individuals with creative talents.

There are certain eligibility conditions for each category of nominees. For example, an investor must own a property in the UAE, while an inventor must have one or more patents approved by the UAE’s Ministry of Economy (MoE) or any other reputable international body, as well ashave a recommendation letter from the MoE. The acquiring of the UAE’s citizenship is possible only through the Rulers’ and Crown Princes’ Courts, Executive Councils Offices and the Cabinet, based on the nominations of federal entities.