DUBAI (Reuters) – The United Arab Emirates has adopted amendments that may enable the Gulf state to grant citizenship to traders and different professionals together with scientists, medical doctors and their households, the federal government mentioned on Saturday.
“The UAE cupboard, native Emiri courts and government councils will nominate these eligible for the citizenship beneath clear standards set for every class,” Dubai’s ruler and UAE Vice President Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum mentioned in a twitter publish.
“The regulation permits receivers of the UAE passport to maintain their present citizenship,” Sheikh Mohammed added.
It was unclear if new passport holders would profit from the general public welfare system. The UAE spends billions of {dollars} every year on free training, healthcare, housing loans and grants for its estimated 1.4 million residents.
Foreigners within the UAE normally have renewable visas legitimate for just a few years tied to employment. The federal government in latest has made its visa coverage extra versatile, providing longer residencies for sure varieties of traders, college students and professionals.
Final yr, the federal government prolonged its “golden” visa system – which grants 10-year residency within the Gulf state – to sure professionals, specialised degree-holders and others.
An oil and fuel producer, the UAE’s economic system has been hit by the coronavirus pandemic and low oil costs, prompting tens of hundreds of expatriates to go away.
(Reporting by Aziz El Yaakoubi; Modifying by Toby Chopra and Angus MacSwan)
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