Emirati nationality law

Emirati Citizenship Act
Parliament of the United Arab Emirates
An Act relating to Emirati citizenship
Enacted by Government of the United Arab Emirates
Status: Current legislation

Emirati nationality law governs citizenship eligibility in the United Arab Emirates. It primarily jus sanguinis. Foreigners have been granted citizenship occasionally, but the process is unclear.[1] GCC citizens are allowed to live in the UAE without restriction and vice versa.[2]

Citizenship by birth

A child born to an Emirati father is an Emirati citizen at birth. This applies whether the child is born in UAE or elsewhere. A child born to an Emirati mother is conferred the Emirati citizenship by age 18 if they choose.[3]

Children born or found in UAE acquire UAE citizenship when both parents are unknown.

Citizenship by descent

Children born to an Emirati father or an unknown or stateless father and an Emirati mother are Emirati citizens by descent, irrespective of the place of birth. Children born to an Emirati mother and a foreign father have the right to apply for citizenship once they reach age 18.[4][5][6]

Citizenship by marriage

A foreign female married to an Emirati male may acquire citizenship, provided that the marriage lasts for at least 3 years. The wife of a naturalized male citizen may also acquire the Emirati citizenship.

However, no such provision exists for a foreign male to marry an Emirati female to attain citizenship.[7]

Citizenship by naturalization

People who have an Emirati mother are allowed to apply for citizenship after six years since birth date on conditions of being born in the UAE and that the mother is a citizen in this date.

Naturalized citizens do not have the right to stand for elections. Arab citizens of Omani, Qatari or Bahraini origins may stand for elections after 7 years.

There are many people, also referred to as the Bedoon, who are born in the UAE but they have not been given citizenship. Political dissidents may get their citizenship revoked.[8]

A foreigner may apply for citizenship by fulfilling the following:

  • Legally lived in the UAE for 30 years with no criminal record in the UAE or lived for 7 years If (Arab Citizen), and 3 years if a citizen of Oman, Qatar, or Bahrain.[9]
  • Legally earn a living
  • Maintain good reputation
  • Have knowledge of the Arabic language at communicative level.

Dual citizenship

Dual citizenship is not recognized.[10]

Loss of citizenship

Citizenship is forfeit by:

  • joining the military service of a foreign country
  • working for a foreign government that is at war with UAE
  • becoming a citizen of a foreign country

Naturalized citizens may also lose their citizenship if they gained citizenship by fraud.

Citizens are allowed to voluntarily give up Emirati citizenship.

See also

References

  1. ↑ Sooud Al Qassemi (22 Sep 2013). "Give expats an opportunity to earn UAE citizenship". gulfnews.com. Retrieved 21 Feb 2015.
  2. ↑ http://www.emirates.com/au/english/plan_book/essential_information/visa_passport_information/uae_visas.aspx
  3. ↑ "Children of Emirati mothers, expatriate fathers offered citizenship". [The National. Retrieved 28 June 2018.
  4. ↑ "27 countries limit a woman's ability to pass citizenship to her child or spouse". Pew Research Center. 5 August 2014. Retrieved 6 October 2016.
  5. ↑ "CHALLENGES TO CITIZENSHIP IN THE MIDDLE EAST AND NORTH AFRICA REGION" (PDF). London School of Economics. Retrieved 6 October 2016.
  6. ↑ "Citizenship_CodedText.pdf" (PDF). Retrieved 6 October 2016.
  7. ↑ https://www.wikihow.com/Get-UAE-Citizenship
  8. ↑ "UAE turns to deportation to silence regime's critics". 7 June 2012.
  9. ↑ https://www.wikihow.com/Get-UAE-Citizenship
  10. ↑ "UNITED ARAB EMIRATES". UNITED ARAB EMIRATES. Retrieved 21 Feb 2015.
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