The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has announced it will grant citizenship to foreign residents who "add value" to the nation. It is very rare a Gulf state to bestow citizenship foreign nationals and represents a bold revision the UAE's immigration policy. UAE Vice-President and ruler Dubai Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum explained that people "specialised talents" who "contribute to our development journey" could fall the new policy. He said artists, doctors, engineers, entrepreneurs, intellectuals, inventors, investors and scientists could be eligible to be given a UAE passport. All successful people and their families would be permitted to hold dual nationality.
The procedure to be given citizenship is dependent recommendations and nominations members of the UAE royal family and high-ranking government officials. It will then be the decision the UAE cabinet to approve or reject the nomination. Sheikh Mohammed said there are "clear criteria" the selection process. Doctors must be specialised scientific fields that are deemed high-priority the UAE. They must have conducted significant studies and research. Scientists must be active researchers and have made contributions to their field attaining an international award or research grant. Inventors need patented inventions registered an internationally recognised organisation.
