How to Get UAE Citizenship

Written by Jennifer Mueller, JD

Last Updated: October 10, 2024

There are extensive benefits to being a citizen of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), including access to free education and health care, and subsidies for housing and food. Becoming an Emirati citizen is not easy, however, unless you are related to someone who is already a citizen. While the UAE does have a naturalization process, it is extremely difficult and time-consuming, especially if you aren't Arab.^{[1]
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Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Becoming a Citizen through Marriage

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1
Recognize that there are different rules for men and women. Women do not have the same citizenship rights as men in the UAE. If you are a woman and marry an Emirati citizen, you will not automatically become an Emirati citizen.^{[2]
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- As a woman, you can get Emirati citizenship as a dependent of your husband, if your husband is an Emirati citizen. Women in the UAE are considered dependents either of their husbands or their fathers, regardless of whether they work or live independently.
- Women cannot pass on their Emirati citizenship. If you are a man and marry an Emirati woman, you will never be able to get Emirati citizenship as a result of being married to her, no matter how long the marriage lasts.
2
Express your intent to become a national to the Ministry of Interior. Once you marry an Emirati citizen, you will generally have the right to reside in the UAE with your spouse. However, you will not have the benefits of being a citizen.
- When you get married, go to the General Directorate of Residence and Foreign Affairs (GDRFA). Bring your marriage certificate and identification. Tell them that you want to become a national, and they will give you forms to complete.
- If you are a man and marry an Emirati woman, any children your wife gives birth to will not be Emirati citizens. They will have to wait until they are 18 to apply for citizenship, and in the meantime you will have to pay for education and healthcare for the child that Emirati citizens get for free.^{[3]
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3
Remain married for 3 years. If you marry an Emirati citizen, you will not become eligible for Emirati citizenship until you have been married for 3 years from the date you expressed your intent to become a national.^{[4]
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- Keep in mind this rule only applies to women who marry men who are Emirati citizens. A man who marries an Emirati woman will not be eligible for citizenship by virtue of the marriage.
4
Revoke your original citizenship. The UAE does not recognize dual citizenship. If you want to become an Emirati citizen through marriage, you must be willing to revoke any citizenship you currently have.^{[5]
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- Contact the embassy or consulate of your country of origin to find out what you need to do to officially revoke your citizenship.
5
Have your husband complete a Citizenship Request for the Foreign Wife. To apply for citizenship, your husband must complete a form and supply documents to the GDRFA that prove your identity and indicate your desire to become a citizen of the UAE.
- You will have to pay a fee for the request to be processed. You must be present with your husband when he submits the form and documents.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Becoming a Citizen through Descent or Ancestry

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1
Demonstrate Arab descent. UAE citizenship is governed by the UAE's nationality law. You are automatically considered a citizen of the UAE if you can prove that you are the direct descendent of an Arab who was living in the Emirates in 1925, at the latest, and continued to live there through 1972 when the nationality law took effect.^{[6]
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- All Arabs living in the UAE in 1972 who had been living there since 1925 were automatically considered Emirati citizens. Children of Emirati citizens are also automatically considered citizens.
- You also may be granted Emirati citizenship if you are an Arab man from Oman, Qatar, or Bahrain and live in the UAE for 3 years. You must be employed with a clean criminal background and good character.
2
Provide proof that your father is an Emirati citizen. If your father is an Emirati citizen, you are automatically considered an Emirati citizen under UAE law. This is so regardless of whether you were born in the country or abroad.^{[7]
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- Your father can file a document for you attesting to his citizenship. If all of his documents are in order, you will be added to his Family Book.
3
Apply for citizenship if your mother is an Emirati citizen. The UAE has different rules that apply if your mother is an Emirati citizen but your father is not. Generally, you are only considered an Emirati citizen if your father is unknown, or your father's nationality is unknown.^{[8]
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- Visit an office of the General Directorate of Residence and Foreign Affairs (GDRFA) and let them know that your mother is an Emirati citizen and you want to apply for Emirati citizenship. They will give you forms to complete.
- If your father is not an Emirati citizen, you are not automatically considered a citizen yourself. However, you have the right to apply for citizenship after you turn 18.^{[9]
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Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Becoming a Citizen through Naturalization

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To reside in the UAE, you must have a sponsor who is an Emirati citizen. Typically your sponsor will either be a family member or an employer. Your sponsor will be responsible for you while you're living in the UAE.^{[10]
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2
Complete an entry permit application. Your sponsor will need to apply for an entry permit for you with the General Directorate of Residence and Foreign Affairs (GDRFA). The requirements for the application vary depending on whether your sponsor is an employer or a family member.^{[11]
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- Once your entry permit is issued, it will be valid for two months. Once you get to the UAE, apply for your residency visa as soon as possible, as it must be issued within 30 days of your arrival.
3
Get a residency visa once you arrive. When you arrive in the UAE, have your sponsor go to the GDRFA and complete the process of getting a residency visa for you. Once your residency visa is issued, it will be valid for 2 years.^{[12]
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- While living in the UAE under a residency visa, you can open a bank account and rent an apartment or other residence. You are not allowed to own property.
- If you break the law, or if your sponsor withdraws their sponsorship, you may be asked to leave the country.
- As long as you obey the law and exhibit good character, you generally shouldn't have any problems renewing your residency visa every 2 years.
4
Live in the UAE continuously for 30 years. To become eligible to apply for citizenship in the UAE as a foreign national, you must reside there legally for a minimum of 30 years. If you leave and come back, the period may restart.^{[13]
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- During the 30 years (or longer) that you live in the UAE, do not violate the law or get in any trouble. You will not be eligible for citizenship if you have any criminal record.
- You also must be continuously employed, typically by an Emirati employer.
5
Demonstrate good character and a positive reputation. The UAE will not grant citizenship to anyone who doesn't conduct themselves honorably. Talk to friends and colleagues, and line up 2 or 3 male Emirati citizens who are willing to vouch for your character. ^{[14]
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- When you apply for citizenship, the GDRFA will request references who will attest to your honor and morality. These references may be given in writing or as in-person testimony.
You cannot become a citizen of the UAE unless you are able to communicate well in Arabic. While the nationality law does not specifically require fluency, it is best to assume that's what is required.^{[15]
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Since the UAE does not recognize dual citizenship, if you want to become an Emirati citizen you must first demonstrate that you have renounced or officially revoked any other citizenship you have. ^{[16]
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