UAE’s new citizenship rule to benefit Indians

NEW DELHI: The United Arab Emirates (UAE) announced on Saturday that the country’s laws have been amended to grant citizenship to high-worth individuals and expats with specialised skills for the first time, a move that could potentially benefit Indians living in the emirates.

UAE Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed Al Maktoum, also the ruler of Dubai, tweeted that the new measures were aimed at attracting skilled professionals and their families to help in the development of the country.

“We adopted law amendments that allow granting the

UAE citizenship to investors, specialised talents and professionals including scientists, doctors, engineers, artists, authors and their families. The new directives aim to attract talent that contribute to our development journey,” he said.

The UAE’s cabinet, local emiri or rulers’ courts and executive councils of individual emirates will nominate those eligible for citizenship under clear criteria for each category. The law will allow those given UAE passports to “keep their existing citizenship”, he added.

The changes to the law on nationality and passports, in effect, will allow expats to become dual citizens. The UAE has become one of the few countries in West Asia to grant citizenship to expats, who form a large chunk of the population in the region.

Former ambassador Zikrur Rahman, who did several stints in West Asia, described the changes as a “very good development”, especially for skilled professionals or those Indians who have lived and invested in the UAE for a long time. “The UAE has big aspirations and it has been importing intellectuals and skilled professionals from India as they lack scientists and engineers. The capabilities of Indians are recognised in many strategic fields and these people will be retained,” he added.