UAE: The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has announced amendments made to the citizenship law, that will allow dual citizenship to expatriates for the first time. The country’s Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum said that the amendment was being made to attract individuals with specialized talents.
In a recent tweet, the Prime Minister said that the law extends UAE citizenship to investors, specialized talents & professionals including scientists, doctors, engineers, artists, authors, and their families, with an aim to call for talents that contribute to the development journey of the country.
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Earlier, the Emirati Nationality Law had banned dual citizenship. Changes to the law have allowed the expatriates to become dual citizens for the first time. The expatriates are required to swear an oath of allegiance and abide by local laws. In case of loss or gain of another citizenship, the authorities should be informed.
Investors, doctors, scientists or researchers, creative talents like authors, inventors, and their families are qualified to be nominated for citizenship by the UAE cabinet, local emiri or rulers’ courts, and executive councils of the seven emirates.
However, each category will have clear criteria of eligibility for citizenship. “The law allows receivers of the UAE passport to keep their existing citizenship,” Sheikh Mohammed added.
UAE’s move could also benefit Indian citizens living in the Emirates. Former ambassador Zikrur Rahman said that the citizenship changes could be fruitful for Indians who have lived or invested in the UAE for a long time.
Rahman added that although UAE has big aspirations, they lack scientists and engineers and hence import intellectuals and skilled professionals from India.
In an attempt at a policy shift for the economic growth of the country, UAE’s law to offer citizenship to a select group of people makes it the first Gulf nation to do so.
