How To Get a UAE Passport? UAE Passport Application Guide in 2024

If you want to become a citizen of the United Arab Emirates, your first question would be how to get a UAE passport. Getting a UAE passport was once considered a feat impossible to achieve. The only ways through which a foreigner could obtain the navy blue passport was either through marriage or naturalization or for special merits. Things changed, though, with the arrival of 2021. The UAE government made new amendments to the country’s nationality law to contribute to the nation’s diversity and inclusiveness by facilitating the processes through which foreigners can become citizens of the United Arab Emirates. The UAE will benefit from this step by enhancing the competencies and talents that already exist, as well as encouraging more bright minds to relocate there and increase the country’s prosperity. This article is a step-by-step guide about getting a UAE passport as a foreigner. But keep in mind, even if you meet all the requirements regarding professional experience, acquiring citizenship in the UAE is a very complex process. Read on to learn more.

Brief Introduction to the UAE Passport

The citizens of the United Arab Emirates are privileged by having the strongest passport among all Arab nations. The navy blue UAE passport is also one of the strongest passports in the world. According to the report of the Henley index, the UAE passport has a global rank of 17th and allows its owners to travel to 175 different countries visa-free or visa-on-arrival.

The navy blue passport also offers its owners the highest extent of mobility. In October 2021, the UAE passport achieved the highest mobility score based on the Global Passport index reported by Arton Capital and was given the global rank of 1st. If you want to learn more about the Emirati pass, we have covered all about the UAE passport in another article.

UAE Passport Strength

The UAE has one of the strongest passports in the world and the best among Arabian nations. This fact is supported not only by the number of countries that grant visa-free entry to UAE passport owners but also by passport ranking indexes. There are several systems for assessing passport strength. One of the most authentic passport ranking indexes is Henley, which ranks each country’s passport according to the number of destinations its citizens can travel to without a prior visa. Henley indexes extract data from the International Air Transport Authority (IATA).
In 2016, UAE citizens could only travel to 35 foreign countries without a prior visa, and their passport was ranked 62nd based on the Henley index. In 2020, however, thanks to the UAE’s profound growth, the nation’s passport ranking rose sharply, becoming the 18th strongest passport worldwide. The trend was maintained, and one year later, with a visa-free / visa-on-arrival score of 173, the navy blue UAE passport rose to the rank of 16 though it didn’t stop there either. Today, the Henley index reports that the UAE passport has achieved the rank of 15. This allows its owners to travel to 175 countries visa-free or visa-on-arrival.

The New Nationality Law Facilitates Getting the UAE Passport

The United Arab Emirates is relatively a young nation born in 1971. In the short period of time passed from the unification of the seven emirates, the UAE has grown significantly in cultural, social, economic, and technological aspects. Now, to achieve even greater extents of development, the country has to rely on diversity and inclusiveness.

Before 2021, the nationality laws were quite rigid and foreigners could not obtain UAE citizenship except under extremely specific conditions, such as birth rights or through marriage. Even investments could not reward the investors with Emirati nationality and instead, those who were able to make a certain amount of investment in real estate or enterprises were given a 5- to 10-year residency visa.

For a country such as the UAE where expatriates constitute more than 90% of the population, the rigid nationality laws used to make some things more complicated for the residents. For example, the Indian community had to go through the process of Indian passport renewal in the UAE over and over so that they can extend their residency permit.

According to the new nationality laws, certain categories of foreigners along with their spouses and children can now apply for the UAE passport and acquire Emirati nationality. We have covered all about the new UAE nationality law in another article for your convenience.

How to Get the UAE Passport as a Foreigner

As part of the UAE’s “Plan of the Century,” the government is interested in attracting bright minds. As the UAE prepares to celebrate its 100th anniversary in 2071, the state is investing in four major areas: education, economy, governance, and social life. Therefore, the new UAE nationality law allows the foreigners to obtain citizenship rights if they meet certain criteria. In other words, non-Emirati investors, professionals, and special talents now have a chance of acquiring the Emirati nationality and passport. Upon non-compliance with the legal obligations or failure to meet the citizenship requirements for the UAE, citizenship will be terminated.

The process of obtaining the UAE passport comprises several steps which we will review one by one below:

Checking Your Eligibility Status for the UAE Passport

In order to be eligible for citizenship and be able to apply for a UAE passport, a foreigner must first fit into one of these seven categories:

• Investors: If you want to get a UAE passport through investment, you must own a property in the UAE. The minimum amount of investment required for getting a UAE nationality has not been specified yet. However, prior to the approval of the new amendments, when investors were only granted long-term visas of 5-year and 10-year period, a minimum investment of $1.36 million in real estate was necessary for obtaining a 5-year visa. The investor also had to retain their property for three years. On the other hand, in order to acquire a 10-year visa, investors had to make an investment of a minimum amount of $2.7 million. They had to either open a deposit in a bank or register a company in the UAE.
• Doctors and Qualified Specialists: Foreigners who want to apply for the UAE passport as doctors or specialists are required to have obtained a PhD degree from an internationally renowned university (among the top 500 in the global ranking) and specialize in a unique scientific discipline or practice in a field of demand in the UAE. They are also required to have at least 10 years of practical experience in their field of specialization. Membership of a prominent international organization related to the nominee’s field of practice is also necessary.
• Scientists: If you are a scientist and want to get the UAE nationality, you have to be an active researcher at a university, research institute, or in the private sector. A minimum of 10 years of practical research and work experience is also required.
• Intellectuals and Individuals With Creative Talents: If you are an artist or have a special talent you can offer to the UAE, you are eligible to apply for the UAE passport. Intellectuals who want to obtain Emirati nationality are required to be pioneers of their field. In order to be nominated for citizenship, artists and intellectuals must have won at least one international award. A letter of recommendation from the related government entities is also required.
• Inventors: Those who want to obtain Emirati nationality as inventors are required to have at least one globally recognized patent. These patents should have gained the approval of a reputable international authority and also contribute to the UAE’s economy. If you fit into any of the categories mentioned above, you have high chances of getting the UAE passport.

The Perks of Obtaining UAE Citizenship

UAE passports are valid in 170 countries around the world. Numerous advantages are also available to its owners, including:

• In any of the Emirates zones, an individual has the right to own a commercial enterprise or real estate.
• Education and health care can be provided for free.
• Food and living costs are subsidised.
• Working for a public institution.
• Taking advantage of social security.
• For those who have worked for at least 20 years, the retirement age in the UAE is 49 years old.

Contacting the Related Authorities to in the UAE

Depending on the category you fit into, you will have to contact a specific government entity of the UAE and introduce yourself as a potential candidate. There are several authorities in charge of reviewing the eligibility of potential citizenship candidates: The Ministry of Economy, Ministry of Culture and Youth, and Emirates Scientists Council.

• If you are an inventor seeking Emirati nationality, you should present your pattern to the UAE’s Ministry of Economy (MoE). The Ministry will review your patent and determine whether it can contribute in any way to the economy of the UAE and benefit the nation. If your parents meet the standards of the Ministry, you will receive a letter of recommendation which is a prerequisite for being nominated as a UAE citizen.

The UAE’s Ministry of Economy has two offices; one in Abu Dhabi and another in Dubai. The contact information for these two offices are as follows:

You can also browse through the website of the Ministry of Economy at www.moec.gov.ae/en/home for more information. You can fill in a contact form at www.moec.gov.ae/en/contactus and get in touch with the authorities.

• The Ministry of Culture and Youth assesses the potential candidates belonging to the category of intellectuals and individuals with creative talents to determine their eligibility for getting the UAE nationality. If the ministry accredits an individual, the individual can then be nominated for obtaining the UAE passport. The contact information for the two offices of the Ministry of Culture and Youth are as follows:

The Dubai office is located in Dubai Design District, building 3, floor 6. The Abu Dhabi office is in the central ministry building in the Sultan Bin Zayed the First street. Check out the official website of the Ministry of Youth and Culture at www.mcy.gov.ae/en/ to get more information. You can also fill in a contact form at www.mcy.gov.ae/en/contact/.

• For scientists, specialists, and doctors, it is the Emirates Scientists Council that determines their eligibility for getting nominated as UAE citizens. The council reviews the CVs and works of the potential citizenship candidates and accredits those who meet the desired criteria by giving them a recommendation letter. This recommendation letter is necessary for the following steps of applying for UAE citizenship. You can learn more about the Emirates Scientists Council, the members, and their responsibilities at ae/en/councils.

If the authorities and government entities mentioned above decide that your case meets the desired criteria and accredit you, they will usually give you a recommendation letter. This means you are eligible to proceed to the next step and apply for UAE citizenship.

Applying for UAE Citizenship

In the United Arab Emirates, citizenship can only be granted to an individual by the ruler of an emirate, the crown princes, and the members of the executive council. However, this does not mean that you have to contact the royal families of the UAE directly and submit your application to them in person!

There are several government facilities that act as intermediaries between the ruling class of the UAE and the people. These are called the Rulers’ Courts and Crown Princes’ Courts. These federal authorities are available in each of the seven emirates of the UAE and you can submit your application from the emirate in which you reside.

The application for UAE citizenship is usually online. However, you’ll most likely still have to attend some meetings in person for your application to be further processed. Application fees are determined by the authorities and vary depending on the situation. For example, if you have any documents that need to be translated or certified as a part of your application, the costs will be included in your application fee.

After submitting your application to the Rulers’ and Crown Princes’ Courts, you will have to wait for your application to be processed. Emirati nationality can only be acquired through nomination from these government facilities. The authorities have not announced the nomination processes yet and further information regarding the application process will be released in the near future, so make sure to stay tuned!

Applying for the UAE passport

After you are nominated for citizenship by the Rulers’ and Crown Princes’ Courts, you officially become a UAE national. However, becoming a citizen of the UAE and acquiring a UAE passport are two separate processes. After obtaining your citizenship, you will have to apply for the UAE passport online through the channels below:

• Website of the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs / Citizenship Departments (GDRFA) at gov.ae/en. In the services section, select the “Citizens” tab and browse through the citizens-related services to find your desired process.
• Website of the Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship at ae/en. In the services section, click on the “Issue Passport” tab and start your application.

Keep in mind that applying for a UAE passport is a separate process and will have separate application fees. However, It is much less complicated than the process of getting UAE nationality.

Validity of the UAE Passport

All passports are valid for 5 years after issuance. An extension is not possible, and you will have to renew your passport after it expires. There is also another instance that requires renewal. The navy blue UAE passport contains 60 pages. When all the pages are full, you will have to apply for a renewal regardless of the expiration date.

Takeaway

This concludes our guide on how to get a UAE passport. The UAE nationality laws have been quite strict for years. However, after the approval of several amendments to these laws in 2021, foreigners were allowed to become citizens of the UAE under certain conditions and apply for the UAE passport. Currently, only a few categories of individuals are eligible to become UAE citizens, including investors, qualified specialists, inventors, scientists, and creative professionals.

One of the easiest ways of obtaining Emirati nationality and getting a UAE passport is an investment. You can consider UAE off-plan property in order to be nominated for citizenship. Fortunately, there are plenty of options available for sale in all of the seven emirates of the country. You can invest in Abu Dhabi properties, buy property in Dubai, or check out the properties available for sale in other emirates to find a suitable option. In any case, our team at dxboffplan can accompany you through your purchase.