20.07.2026
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How to obtain UAE citizenship? The task is not simple, but quite achievable. Since 2021, there have been more options for obtaining an Emirati passport. The algorithm for obtaining citizenship is generally the same for everyone, with the exception of nuances.
What is important to keep in mind? The required documents and financial costs depend on which category the potential immigrant falls into. You also need to be sure of your own good character, learn the basics of the language, and, of course, prove your benefit to the country. It is better to act through a reliable intermediary who will ensure that all citizenship transfer steps are strictly followed.
In 2025, the number of UAE citizens reached 1.5 million people. After being born, each child receives a plot of land from the state and funds in a personal account. By the time they reach adulthood, the citizen already has their own housing and a financial cushion for a comfortable life.
The level of medicine and education in the UAE is comparable to European standards, and students receive support to study at leading European universities. A UAE passport allows you to freely visit most countries without visas.
Important life events are accompanied by government subsidies, and citizens earn 2–3 times more than expats. Therefore, UAE citizenship is the dream of many.
Indigenous residents make up the main part of UAE citizens, but about 90% of the overall population are foreigners living in the country on long-term visas. Obtaining citizenship through naturalisation is possible after 30 years of residence, but since 2021, highly qualified specialists and investors have been able to obtain a passport significantly faster.
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The United Arab Emirates attracts emigrants thanks to a warm climate, beautiful beaches, luxurious shopping centres and restaurants, low crime rates, and, most importantly, ample opportunities for career growth and entrepreneurship.
UAE citizenship offers a number of significant benefits:
To live and work in the UAE, it is not necessary to become a citizen or obtain a local passport. Long-term stay is possible with a residence visa, which can be obtained quite simply, provided you meet certain requirements.
Previously, before 2021, obtaining citizenship was difficult: the country's authorities strictly controlled the process and carefully selected the candidates. However, the government made an unprecedented decision to include investment in the list of ways to obtain citizenship, without setting a minimum amount for investment in the economy.
Foreigners now have an additional opportunity to obtain citizenship in the Emirates. However, this requires compliance with certain requirements and completion of established procedures.
Unlike many countries where there is a single procedure for obtaining citizenship, the UAE provides several naturalisation options, each with its own conditions, timeframes, and chances of success.
Let us take a closer look at them.
This method is considered classic but requires considerable time and effort. The candidate must reside continuously in the UAE for a minimum of 30 years. For citizens of Arab countries, the period is reduced to 7–10 years, and for citizens of Oman, Qatar, and Bahrain, it is reduced to 3 years. The applicant must maintain a legal income throughout the entire period of residence.
Additional mandatory conditions include: knowledge of Arabic at a level that allows free communication in everyday situations and understanding of official documents; absence of criminal convictions both in the UAE and in the country of citizenship; financial stability, confirmed by corresponding documents; readiness to renounce previous citizenship, which is required in most cases.
According to data from the Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship, fewer than 150 people were naturalized annually between 2023 and 2025, most of whom were spouses of UAE citizens. A fee of 100 dirhams (approximately 27 US dollars) is charged for submitting an application for citizenship.
One of the fastest ways, however, it has a number of strict requirements and conditions that must be met.
Foreign women married to UAE citizens can apply for citizenship after 7 years of official marriage if they have children together. If they have no children, the application period is extended to 10 years.
However, according to the 2025 law, foreign men married to UAE citizens cannot obtain citizenship through marriage.
The marriage must be officially registered in the UAE and recognised in accordance with local laws. The woman will be required to convert to Islam to enter into the union. The foreign wife becomes dependent on her husband, including being unable to work without his permission.
Children born in such marriage automatically receive UAE citizenship. In the event of divorce, custody of the children will remain with the father. The woman loses her right to citizenship and the possibility of extending her residence permit.
Fake marriages are strictly prohibited by law, and in case of discovery can lead to deportation and a lifetime ban on entering the country. According to legal experts, about 40–45% of applications for citizenship through marriage receive approval, which is significantly higher than with the standard naturalisation procedure.
As for children of UAE citizens, they automatically become citizens of the country if the father is a UAE citizen, regardless of the mother's citizenship and place of birth. In cases where the mother is a UAE citizen and the father is a foreigner or his identity is unknown, the child can obtain citizenship only after submitting the appropriate application.
Since January 2021, the UAE has been offering a citizenship programme for investors and entrepreneurs who have made a significant contribution to the country's economy. This is one of the most accessible ways for wealthy foreigners to become UAE citizens and obtain a UAE passport.
Although official minimum requirements are not published in detail, in practice, successful individuals invest significant sums (usually from 5 to 20 million US dollars) in real estate, investment funds, or business projects.
According to unofficial information, the minimum amount for submitting an application is approximately 2 million dirhams (about 545 thousand dollars), but in practice, investments of a much larger amount are necessary for successful consideration.
To apply for the programme, you must have a special nomination, which is issued by government institutions, boards of directors of large corporations, or the ruler of the emirate. Without an official offer, the application will not be considered.
The citizenship by merit and talent pathway is designed for outstanding specialists from various fields whose work is of significant importance to the country. In 2021, the list of professions falling under this category was significantly expanded.
The main requirements include: international recognition in the professional field, confirmed by awards; publications in leading journals; patents.
An important aspect is recommendations provided by reputable institutions or UAE government bodies. The candidate's actual contribution to the development of the industry in the UAE is also taken into account. No less significant is membership in international professional associations, which confirms a high level of expertise.
Since 2021, the UAE has introduced the possibility of obtaining citizenship for outstanding specialists in such areas as medicine, IT, science, sport, and art. Among those who have already been granted this status for significant achievements are Telegram founder Pavel Durov and ex-Real Madrid footballer Míchel Salgado.
The law does not establish specific requirements for the length of residence in the country for obtaining citizenship. The decision is made by sheikhs, crown princes, executive councils of the emirates, and the Cabinet of Ministers. The candidate must prove a high level of professionalism and a significant contribution to their field. Furthermore:
In the United Arab Emirates, it is permitted to retain previous citizenship when obtaining an Emirati passport for outstanding achievements. Such status can also extend to members of the applicant's family. However, in the event of violating the country's laws, the new passport will be revoked.
The path to citizenship begins with obtaining a residence permit, which requires collecting documents confirming eligibility for residency. A long-term visa can be issued for one to three years, with the possibility of extension.
A Green Visa is issued for a five-year period. Investors are granted a Golden Visa, allowing them to stay in the country for a maximum of ten years.
Investment requirements for obtaining citizenship in Dubai and other emirates differ. When preparing documents, please consider additional costs, including government fees. A residence permit can be obtained on various grounds:
To obtain resident status, a foreigner must first find an employer in the UAE who will issue a temporary visa. Upon arrival, it is replaced with a resident card. It is mandatory to undergo a medical examination, provide an employment contract, and a certified translation of the diploma into English or Arabic.
Since October 2022, a Green Visa has been in effect, allowing remote employees of international companies to work in the UAE with permission from the Ministry of Labour.
To obtain a residence permit, foreign citizens must demonstrate confident command of the English language by successfully passing the corresponding test. In addition, it is necessary to pay tuition for the entire first year.
It is important to note that this type of visa does not allow official employment, so a change in residence status will be required to work.
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When purchasing residential or commercial properties with a price of 5 million dirhams or more, the owners are entitled to a five-year Green Visa. However, it is important to note that this option is available only to those foreign citizens who have paid for the purchase in full without using bank loans.
In addition, a three-year visa is provided to owners of apartments worth at least 750 thousand dirhams.
To obtain a temporary residence permit based on investment in the economy, you must invest a minimum of 3 million US dollars. Alternatively, you can open your own business from scratch or create a joint venture with an already operating company in the UAE.
Under the Golden Visa programme, it is possible to simultaneously register residence permits for all family members, including children up to 25 years old, as well as for employees such as a driver, maid, or nanny.
Since the procedures and requirements may change over time, it is recommended to regularly check official sources or consult with relevant experts for up-to-date information.
The main requirements for obtaining UAE citizenship include several key conditions:
It is important to note that each case is assessed individually, and the UAE authorities approach this matter with particular thoroughness and attention.
There are many myths and incorrect perceptions surrounding the topic of obtaining UAE citizenship.
Buying an apartment in the Emirates can open the path to a residence visa or even a Golden Visa for a period of 5–10 years, but this does not mean automatic granting of citizenship.
UAE citizenship is a special status that is issued exclusively by decision of government bodies, and investments in real estate alone are not sufficient for this.
Golden Visa is a long-term residence visa that allows you to reside, work, and study in the UAE. However, it does not provide the right to participate in elections, receive government benefits, or hold positions in the public sector. This status is not equivalent to citizenship and does not lead to its acquisition.
Entering into marriage with a female UAE citizen does not in itself guarantee obtaining an Emirati passport for a foreigner. The process of obtaining citizenship remains separate and is governed by strict laws that do not directly depend on marital status.
The law permits naturalisation only for women who have become spouses of male Emiratis, and only upon fulfilment of certain conditions. It is more difficult for foreign men to obtain permission for marriage: their Muslim brides must obtain approval from the Naturalisation Office.
If a woman enters into marriage with a non-Muslim without permission, she risks losing her citizenship. Foreign spouses do not receive residence permits or citizenship automatically. Children from such marriages can apply for citizenship only after reaching 18 years of age.
To obtain UAE citizenship, applicants must demonstrate a proficiency in Arabic sufficient to communicate fluently in everyday life and understand official papers. This requires successfully passing an examination, which is conducted both in specialised centres and online.
The test includes four sections: reading, writing, listening, and speaking. Only after successfully passing this examination can one apply for citizenship.
The examination is assessed on a scale from 0 to 100 points, with a minimum passing threshold of 60 points.
The process of obtaining it is quite lengthy. Naturalisation on standard terms is possible only after 30 years of residence in the country, which is significantly longer than in most developed countries. For example, in France, citizenship can be obtained after 5 years of residence, and in Greece after 7 years of residence.
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In the United Arab Emirates, dual citizenship is not officially permitted. When obtaining a passport through the standard naturalisation procedure, it is necessary to renounce previous citizenship.
However, exceptions are provided for investors and highly qualified specialists: they can retain their first passport if they acquire UAE citizenship for outstanding merits.
Naturalised citizens of the United Arab Emirates can lose their citizenship in the following cases:
Upon deprivation of citizenship, the passport is also cancelled for their spouse and minor children. An Emirati's wife loses citizenship after divorce or the death of her husband only if she marries a foreigner or obtains citizenship of another state. In other cases, her citizenship is retained.
Citizenship cannot simply be bought directly. However, obtaining a residence visa opens the path to citizenship in Dubai or other emirates.
Thus, it is possible for foreign citizens to obtain residency through investment in business or real estate. The main requirements for investors include a certain capital and contribution to the country's economy.
A UAE passport provides a wide range of rights and privileges that are unavailable to ordinary residents. There is no permanent residence permit in the country: visas for 2, 5, or 10 years are issued, whereas citizenship ensures lifetime status.
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