Latest: Education and medical leaders predict citizenship initiative will attract 'best minds'
Non-Emiratis can obtain Emirati citizenship for the first time in a new process set out by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid on Saturday.
Legal changes also mean a person can retain their original nationality, allowing them to become dual citizens. Citizenship is difficult to obtain in the Gulf and is not traditionally offered to foreigners.
The new rules do not provide people with a path to apply for citizenship.
Instead, skilled professionals would be nominated by government or royal court officials. This includes the Cabinet, the executive council of each of the seven emirates, the rulers’ courts, or their crown princes.
The government has yet to set out how nominees would be identified.
People eligible for nomination include investors, individuals with specialist professions – such as doctors or scientists – as well as artists and other "talented" or "creative" people.
The changes to the law also allows the families – the spouse and children – of those eligible to receive citizenship. Family members may also retain their current nationality.
The UAE Cabinet brought in the change following an order from President Sheikh Khalifa, with the aim of attracting and retaining intelligent, specialist individuals, who would enrich UAE society and help progress the country's development.
“We adopted law amendments that allow granting the UAE citizenship to investors, specialised talents & professionals including scientists, doctors, engineers, artists, authors and their families,” Sheikh Mohammed, Vice President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, said on Saturday.
“The new directives aim to attract talents that contribute to our development journey.
“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 decision is part of a wider move from the government to retain exceptional workers and foreign investors, allowing people to establish deeper roots in the country and the nation to benefit from their expertise.
Who is eligible for Emirati citizenship?
Saturday’s changes in law outlined several different categories of eligible residents. Each category has different conditions.
Investors must own property in the UAE.
Doctors and specialists must be specialists in a unique scientific field or one that is deemed high-priority by the Emirates. The individual must have made important contributions or conducted significant studies and research. They also must have no less than 10 years' experience in addition to membership to prestigious groups and organisations in their field.
Scientists must be active researchers at a university or a private researcher centre. They must have a minimum of 10 years' experience and must have made contributions to their field by attaining an international award or research grant. To be eligible for citizenship, they must also be recommended by internationally recognised bodies.
Talented people must have patented inventions registered by the Ministry of Economy and Commerce or any internationally recognised organisation. They should also submit a letter of recommendation from the ministry.
Intellectuals, artists and creatives must have one or more international awards in their field and a recommendation letter from the government institution of their field.
What else needs to be done to receive citizenship?
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 UAE citizenship offers a wide range of benefits, including the right to establish or own commercial entities and properties, in addition to any other benefits granted by federal authorities after the approval of the Cabinet or local authorities.
The citizenship can be withdrawn on breach of these conditions.
What has changed?
Previously, citizenship was generally only granted to wives of Emiratis, children of Emirati fathers and long-standing citizens holding a presidential decree. The children of Emirati mothers, married to non-Emiratis, are not automatically granted citizenship but must apply instead. The process of naturalising the children of Emirati mothers can sometimes take years.
How else can you stay in the UAE long-term?
Golden visa:
In May 2019, Sheikh Mohammed announced the launch of a golden card visa scheme – a long-term residency programme that extended to the spouse and children of the cardholder. A long list of people are deemed eligible for the 10-year visa, including medical doctors, scientists and data experts, among many others. High-scoring pupils who leave high school with top marks will also be eligible – as will their families.
The visa offers 10-year residency on a renewable basis. As long as the recipient continues to meet the conditions of the visa, they can renew for a further 10 years when it is due to expire. Typically, foreign workers must renew their work visa every two to three years.
Retirement visa:
Dubai announced a retirement visa programme that allows residents to retire in the emirate, as of September last year. The five-year retirement visa allows Dubai residents older than 55 to live in the emirate, provided they meet certain criteria. Applicants must have valid UAE health insurance and satisfy one of these three requirements: earn a monthly income of Dh20,000; have Dh1 million in cash savings; or own Dh2m worth of property in Dubai.
Remote working visa:
Last year, Dubai also launched a remote-working programme that allows professionals to live in the emirate while being employed overseas. The aim was to encourage employees around the world to relocate to Dubai and benefit from all the services permanent residents of the emirate enjoy. This includes phone and internet, utilities, schooling and tax-free salaries.
Which other Gulf countries offer citizenship?
In late 2019, Saudi Arabia granted citizenship to foreigners in fields, such as medicine and technology, to diversify the kingdom's economy.
The changes were part of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s economic and social reform plans to steer the economy away from its reliance on oil.
The kingdom said it aimed to attract “scientists, intellectuals and innovators from around the world, to enable the kingdom to become a diverse hub that the Arab world would be proud of”.
Experts in forensic and medical science, technology, agriculture, nuclear and renewable energy, oil and gas and artificial intelligence were included as under consideration.
People involved in arts, sports and culture were also eligible to “contribute and support the enhancement of Saudi competencies and knowledge that will benefit the general public”.
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Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government
Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council
Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south
Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory
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5 of the most-popular Airbnb locations in Dubai
Bobby Grudziecki, chief operating officer of Frank Porter, identifies the five most popular areas in Dubai for those looking to make the most out of their properties and the rates owners can secure:
• Dubai Marina
The Marina and Jumeirah Beach Residence are popular locations, says Mr Grudziecki, due to their closeness to the beach, restaurants and hotels.
Frank Porter’s average Airbnb rent:
One bedroom: Dh482 to Dh739
Two bedroom: Dh627 to Dh960
Three bedroom: Dh721 to Dh1,104
• Downtown
Within walking distance of the Dubai Mall, Burj Khalifa and the famous fountains, this location combines business and leisure. “Sure it’s for tourists,” says Mr Grudziecki. “Though Downtown [still caters to business people] because it’s close to Dubai International Financial Centre."
Frank Porter’s average Airbnb rent:
One bedroom: Dh497 to Dh772
Two bedroom: Dh646 to Dh1,003
Three bedroom: Dh743 to Dh1,154
• City Walk
The rising star of the Dubai property market, this area is lined with pristine sidewalks, boutiques and cafes and close to the new entertainment venue Coca Cola Arena. “Downtown and Marina are pretty much the same prices,” Mr Grudziecki says, “but City Walk is higher.”
Frank Porter’s average Airbnb rent:
One bedroom: Dh524 to Dh809
Two bedroom: Dh682 to Dh1,052
Three bedroom: Dh784 to Dh1,210
• Jumeirah Lake Towers
Dubai Marina’s little brother JLT resides on the other side of Sheikh Zayed road but is still close enough to beachside outlets and attractions. The big selling point for Airbnb renters, however, is that “it’s cheaper than Dubai Marina”, Mr Grudziecki says.
Frank Porter’s average Airbnb rent:
One bedroom: Dh422 to Dh629
Two bedroom: Dh549 to Dh818
Three bedroom: Dh631 to Dh941
• Palm Jumeirah
Palm Jumeirah's proximity to luxury resorts is attractive, especially for big families, says Mr Grudziecki, as Airbnb renters can secure competitive rates on one of the world’s most famous tourist destinations.
Frank Porter’s average Airbnb rent:
One bedroom: Dh503 to Dh770
Two bedroom: Dh654 to Dh1,002
Three bedroom: Dh752 to Dh1,152
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The Africa Institute 101
Housed on the same site as the original Africa Hall, which first hosted an Arab-African Symposium in 1976, the newly renovated building will be home to a think tank and postgraduate studies hub (it will offer master’s and PhD programmes). The centre will focus on both the historical and contemporary links between Africa and the Gulf, and will serve as a meeting place for conferences, symposia, lectures, film screenings, plays, musical performances and more. In fact, today it is hosting a symposium – 5-plus-1: Rethinking Abstraction that will look at the six decades of Frank Bowling’s career, as well as those of his contemporaries that invested social, cultural and personal meaning into abstraction.
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.
Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.
“Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.
“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.
Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.
From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.
Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.
BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.
Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.
Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.
“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.
“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.
“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”
The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”
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