They are required to own a property in the UAE.
Regulations And Process In The Uae As Of Attaining Uae Nationality
According to Federal Law No (17) for 1972, Article 1, nationality may be attained in three different ways which are by law, citizenship, and naturalisation.
UAE nationality by law
A national by law is:
- Every Arab individual who was residing in one of the seven emirates in 1925 or before and who continued to reside therein until the effective date of the law no. 17 of 1972; ancestors’ residence shall be deemed complementary to descendants’ residence.
- Anyone born in the UAE or abroad to a father who is a national of the UAE by operation of law
- Anyone born in the UAE or abroad to a mother who is a national by operation of law, whose filiation to his/her father is not substantiated
- Anyone born in the UAE or abroad to a mother who is a national by operation of law or to a father with unknown or without citizenship
- Anyone born in the UAE to unknown parents – a foundling shall be deemed to have been born in the UAE unless proven otherwise.
UAE nationality by citizenship
- A foreign woman married to a UAE National may be granted nationality by citizenship after the lapse of seven years from the date of submission of the application to the Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship in case she gets one child or more. The said period shall be increased to 10 years should there be no children, provided that the marriage is actually ongoing and according to the provisions of the present Decree-Law.
- If the husband dies or the couple is divorced before the expiry of the period referred to, and if the wife has one or more children of said husband, she may be granted nationality after the lapse of that period, as long as she remains a widow or a divorcee, or got married to a national after her husband’s death or divorce and maintains residence in the UAE.
- A wife, who has acquired nationality of her husband by way of marriage according to the preceding Article, shall retain the UAE nationality in case of her husband’s death. Her nationality shall not be withdrawn except in the following two cases:
- Her marriage to a person of a foreign nationality
- Resumption of her original nationality or acquisition of another nationality.
UAE nationality by naturalization
UAE nationality may be granted by the way of naturalization to the following:
- An Arab individual from Omani, Qatari or Bahraini origin residing in the UAE on continuous and lawful basis for at least three years directly before the date of submitting naturalization application, provided that he has lawful source of income, is of a good reputation and good conduct, and not convicted for an offence involving breach of honor or trust.
- Members of Arab tribes emigrated from countries neighboring the UAE, who have been displaced to the UAE, and lawfully and continuously resided therein for at least three years directly before the date of submitting naturalization application;
- Arab individual who enjoys full legal capacity, has continuously and lawfully resided in the member emirates for at least seven years directly before the date of submitting naturalization application, has lawful source of income, is of good reputation and good conduct, and not convicted for any offence involving moral turpitude or dishonesty
- Any person who enjoys full legal capacity, has continuously and legally resided in the member emirates since or before 1940 and retained his regular residence until the effective date of the law no. 17 of 1972; has lawful source of income, is of a good reputation and good conduct, and not convicted for any offence involving breach of honor or trust, and is proficient in the Arabic language
- Any person, other than those mentioned above, who enjoys full legal capacity if he has continuously and legally resided in the member emirates for a period of no less than 30 years of which he has spent 20 years at least after the effective date of law no. 17 of 1972; provided that he has lawful source of income, is of a good reputation and good conduct, and not convicted for any offence involving moral turpitude and dishonesty, and is proficient in the Arabic language
- Any person having provided outstanding services to the UAE without regard to residence periods provided for in the preceding articles
- Children of a UAE woman, who got married to a foreign man after the lapse of a period of not less than six years from the date of their birth; provided that the mother holds the UAE nationality at the time of birth until the date of application for nationality, in accordance with the regulations determined in the Executive Regulations;
- A daughter of a national woman and foreign father and who is married to a foreigner, in accordance with the Executive Regulations of the present Decree-Law.
Requirements for acquiring nationality
Nationality shall be granted to the applicant in accordance with the following conditions:
- He/she shall renounce his/her nationality of origin or any other nationality he/she holds.
- He/she shall hold a legal and valid residence permit in the State.
- He/she shall be proficient in Arabic.
- He/she shall have a lawful source of income.
- He/she shall hold an educational qualification.
- He/she shall be of good reputation and good conduct.
- He/she shall not have been convicted for a felony or misdemeanour involving moral turpitude or dishonesty, unless rehabilitated.
- He/shall obtain security approval.
- He/she shall swear allegiance to the UAE.
You may apply for UAE nationality through the Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship website.
There are some new amendments lately that offer some foreigners to get UAE citizenship without not renouncing the original nationalities.
New amendment outlined several different categories of eligible residents. Each category has different conditions.
Investors
Doctors and specialists
They must be specialised in a unique scientific discipline or any other that are highly required in the UAE. The applicant must have acknowledged scientific contributions, studies and research of scientific value and a practical experience of not less than 10 years, in addition to obtaining membership in a reputable organisation in his field of specialisation.
Scientists
They are required to be an active researcher in a university or research centre or in the private sector, with a practical experience of not less than 10 years in the same field. They also should have contributions in the scientific field such as winning a prestigious scientific award, or securing substantial funding for their research during the past 10 years. It is also mandatory to obtain a recommendation letter from recognised scientific institutions in the UAE.
Inventors
They are required to obtain one or more patents that are approved by the UAE Ministry of Economy or any other reputable international body, in addition to a recommendation letter from the Economy Ministry.
Creative talents
Intellectuals and artists should be pioneers in the culture and art fields and winners of one or more international award(s). A recommendation letter from related government entities is mandatory as well.
- 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.
- The process of naturalisation would begin with a nomination by the Federal Cabinet or by the Ruler’s Office or Executive Council in an Emirate. Letters of recommendation are also required for nominations in most categories.
- In case of qualifying, and before acquiring the citizenship, the individual must swear the oath of allegiance. The naturalised individual must comply with Emirati laws and inform the respective government agency in case they acquire or lose another citizenship, a UAE Government statement read.
- The detailed criteria for each category have yet to be announced. Reports indicate that a person who acquires nationality under the new rules will not be required to renounce his or her earlier citizenship, but instead may remain a dual national; this is a departure from the previous rules for acquiring nationality under the Nationality Law.
- Those new amendments were announced however, they has not been published UAE Official Gazette yet.