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. GCC citizens are allowed to live in the UAE without restriction and vice versa.
Contents
Birth
Children born in the UAE to unknown parents are automatically considered to be Emirati citizens.
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.
Marriage
A foreign woman married to an Emirati man may get citizenship, provided that the marriage lasts for 3 years. She loses citizenship if she divorces and remarries a foreigner. The wife of a recently naturalized male citizen may also become an Emirati citizen. Their minor children will also become citizens.
Naturalization
A foreigner may apply for citizenship by fulfilling the following:
People who have an Emirati mother are allowed to apply for citizenship upon reaching the legal age of 18.
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 in the UAE who are Emirati by blood but they have not been given citizenship. This issue is also common in other GCC nations.
Dual citizenship
Dual citizenship is not recognized. Once citizenship of another country is obtained, UAE nationality must be given up.
Loss of citizenship
Citizenship is forfeit by:
Naturalized citizens may also lose their citizenship if they gained citizenship by fraud.
Citizens are allowed to voluntarily give up Emirati citizenship.