🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates · Citizenship
Naturalization rules: required residence years, language and civics requirements, and each country's dual-citizenship policy.
Quick answer
UAE citizenship is very rarely granted; a 2021 reform allows authorities to nominate select investors, professionals, talents and their families. Most residents remain long-term visa holders, and nominated citizens may retain their original nationality.
Emirati citizenship is highly restrictive and is not available through ordinary naturalisation. A 2021 amendment to the Nationality Law allows the UAE authorities to nominate select individuals — such as investors, talented professionals (doctors, scientists, engineers, artists) and their families — for citizenship. The UAE generally does not grant citizenship to long-term residents, and most foreigners remain on residence visas (e.g. the Golden Visa).
- There is no ordinary naturalisation route; citizenship is highly restricted.
- A 2021 law lets authorities nominate select investors, talented professionals and their families.
- Long-term residents generally remain on residence visas (e.g. the Golden Visa), not citizenship.
- Confirm current rules via the UAE Government portal.
Step-by-step
- 1
Confirm your route and residence
Naturalization is very restrictive and mainly by nomination: since a 2021 change, selected investors, doctors, scientists, inventors and other talents (and their families) may be granted citizenship.
- 2
Meet language and knowledge requirements
There is no public language/knowledge exam; eligibility rests on the nomination category and its specific criteria (e.g. recognized achievement or investment).
- 3
Meet good-character and other conditions
Meet good-standing and category conditions; an official body or court must nominate/recommend you.
- 4
Apply to the nationality authority
The nomination is processed through the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs & Port Security and approved by the authorities.
- 5
Attend interview and complete formalities
On approval, complete the oath and formalities set by the authority.
- 6
Receive citizenship and a passport
Nominated citizens may retain their existing nationality (dual permitted for this route); a UAE passport follows. Ordinary residents generally cannot naturalize.
Checklist
- Eligible route + qualifying residence period
- Continuous residence / presence conditions met
- Language + civic knowledge requirement met
- Good character / clean record
- Application + documents + fee
- Interview / formalities completed
- Dual-nationality / renunciation rule handled
- Citizenship confirmed; passport applied
Official authorities
- UAE citizenship (u.ae)
Official guide to Emirati citizenship.
Frequently asked questions
Can foreigners become UAE citizens?
Only in limited cases — a 2021 law lets authorities nominate select investors, doctors, scientists, creatives and talented individuals and their families.
Is naturalization open to apply for?
It is largely nomination-based rather than an open application; most foreigners remain on residence visas.
Can I keep my original nationality?
The nomination scheme allows naturalized citizens to retain their original nationality in defined cases.
Official-information aggregation, not legal advice. Always verify on the authority's own site.
Government portals
- The UAE Government Portal — Official UAE government portal — services, visas, residency
- Federal Authority for Identity & Citizenship (ICP) — Entry permits, residence visas, Golden Visa, Emirates ID
- Federal Tax Authority (FTA) — VAT and corporate-tax registration and filing
- Ministry of Economy — Company registration, business licensing, foreign investment