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UAE to offer citizenship to selected expats in rare move for Gulf

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Agence France-Presse

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2021/life/01/31/20210130-dubai-expo-2020-in-dubai-rtr.jpg"/><figcaption>People walk at the site of Dubai Expo 2020 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates January 16, 2021. Rula Rouhana, Reuters</figcaption></figure></div>The UAE announced Saturday it is opening a path to citizenship for select foreigners, in a rare move for the Gulf where the status and its welfare benefits are jealously guarded.Dubai ruler and United Arab Emirates (UAE) Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashed Al-Maktoum said &quot;investors, specialized talents and professionals including scientists, doctors, engineers, artists, authors and their families&quot; would be eligible for naturalization under the new amendment.&quot;The UAE cabinet, local emiri courts and executive councils will nominate those eligible for the citizenship under clear criteria set for each category,&quot; Sheikh Mohammed said.&quot;The law allows receivers of the UAE passport to keep their existing citizenship.&quot;<ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/overseas/01/25/21/dubai-health-chief-replaced-as-uae-sees-surge-in-covid-19-cases">Dubai health chief replaced as UAE sees surge in COVID-19 cases</a></li>	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/overseas/01/21/21/surging-cases-strain-uaes-open-for-business-covid-strategy">Surging cases strain UAE&#x27;s open for business COVID strategy</a></li></ul>The UAE government said the amendment to the citizenship law &quot;aims at appreciating the talents and competencies present in the UAE and attracting more bright minds to the Emirati community&quot;.Citizens make up a small minority of the population of the UAE, which has a huge migrant labour force, largely from south Asia, some of whom are second or third generation residents.The UAE also has a growing community of wealthy expats attracted by the low tax regime and the luxury megaprojects and tourist attractions of the larger emirates.The wealthy oil states of the Gulf have long guaranteed their citizens a high standard of living through reserved jobs and a cradle to grave welfare system.To protect it, they have seldom allowed naturalisations.

"Investors, specialized talents and professionals including scientists, doctors, engineers, artists, authors and their families" are qualified.

"Investors, specialized talents and professionals including scientists, doctors, engineers, artists, authors and their families" are qualified.