According to the official UAE news agency, the UAE government passed a major amendment on 30th local time that will grant UAE citizenship to eligible foreign investors, professionals such as scientists and doctors and their families, and allow foreigners who have been granted UAE passports to continue to retain their citizenship in their home countries.
This is seen as a major change by the UAE authorities in the area of its citizenship-related laws, which previously did not recognize dual citizenship.
UAE Vice President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai Mohammed reportedly announced the decision in a personal social media post on the same day, stating that the UAE Cabinet, local courts and the Executive Council will set clear guidelines based on each category in order to nominate those eligible for citizenship.
He also said that the bill was introduced to attract talent for the future development of the UAE.
It was noted that the bill specifies the requirements for each category of persons eligible to apply for citizenship.
Investors must own a property in the UAE; professionals such as doctors and scientists must be certified in the field of expertise required by the UAE, have at least ten years of experience in the field, have made significant scientific contributions to the field and be nominated by the relevant UAE authorities.
For inventors in the field of innovation, at least one patent must be registered by the UAE Ministry of Economy or in the relevant international field and must be able to create value for the UAE economy and be nominated by the UAE Ministry of Economy.
For artists, they must be pioneers in their field of culture and art, and must have won at least one international award and be nominated by the relevant UAE authorities.
