The United Arab Emirates (UAE) took a landmark decision to grant citizenship to foreigners, but only the ‘selected foreigners’ will get the benefit from the public welfare system.
Dubai ruler and UAE Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashed Al Maktoum confirmed the matter on Saturday.
It is known that foreigners do not get citizenship although living in the Arab countries for a decade. Now the UAE government took the landmark decision, the country’s government has already amended the law in this regard.
This is considered the most important step amid the Covid-19 pandemic in any Gulf country.
Investors, specialized talents and professionals including scientists, doctors, engineers, artists, authors and their families” would be eligible for naturalization under the new amendment to the citizenship law, said Sheikh Mohammad.
“The UAE cabinet, local Emiri courts and executive councils will nominate those eligible for the citizenship under clear criteria set for each category,” he said, adding: “The law allows receivers of the UAE passport to keep their existing citizenship.”
Holders of UAE passports will also be able to retain the citizenship of their respective countries, the government said.
The Citizenship Act has been amended to grant citizenship to meritorious and skilled foreigners residing in the country. This will make it possible to attract more talented and skilled people to the UAE.
The number of foreign nationals granted citizenship in the UAE, a country of 9 million people, is not very high. A lot of foreign workers from different countries are working there. Most of them are from South Asia. Many of these people are second or third generation residents.Source: Al Jazeera, Source: https://www.daily-bangladesh.com
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