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Evolving notions of citizenship in UAE and the Gulf
Citizenship laws across the GCC states have been restrictive since the start of the oil era due to the handsome benefits associated with citizenship, often including public sector jobs and housing, in addition to free education and healthcare. So any expansion of criteria for citizenship is noteworthy, even though this change is being explained primarily as an economic strategy to speed up recovery after the hit caused by Covid-19.
While this is the first major announcement on citizenship, it's not the first time the UAE has made moves to incorporate those expatriates whom its leaders consider "most valuable" into longer term so-called "" schemes as a means of securing both their talent and investments in companies and in real estate.
In late 2019, Saudi Arabia announced the through which select foreigners could gain permanent residency that would allow them to purchase property, start businesses without Saudi sponsors, sponsor family visas, and change jobs without contacting sponsors.
Citizenship laws across the GCC states have been restrictive since the start of the oil era due to the handsome benefits associated |
around the same time through a golden visa scheme, which grants 10-year residency for five types of expatriates: investors, entrepreneurs, chief executives, scientists, and 'outstanding' students. The granting of citizenship, however, represents an upgrading of these other previous offers, which, at least in Saudi Arabia, came with a ; it is unclear what cost, if any, would be associated with the UAE's new citizenship plan.
Despite the importance of the shift from long-term visa to the offer of citizenship, the expatriate population is still being described as useful primarily insofar as they are considered economic or intellectual assets.
Some quirks of citizenship laws illustrate the mindset that expatriates remain outsiders, at least socially. Indeed, Sheikha Jawaher al-Qasimi, wife of the leader of Sharjah, pointed out in a tweet that children of women with non-Emirati men still are not granted citizenship - a policy common throughout the GCC.
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While some expatriates will be offered citizenship (and will be allowed to maintain their other citizenship) as part of the new scheme, it is unclear how much social integration will take place.
The announcement comes amid reports of an exodus of expatriates from the GCC after the Covid-19 pandemic has led to the cancelation of employment contracts to which residence visas are attached. In October, Oxford Economics estimated that , potentially leaving 10 percent of its residents displaced.
Elsewhere in the Gulf, moves toward , particularly in Kuwait, Oman, and Saudi Arabia, amid the crunch on government finances. about expatriates feeling socially marginalised as financial burdens, and thus largely unwanted in GCC societies after the start of the pandemic.
The UAE has made some efforts to retain some of its expatriate workforce, which makes up 90 percent of its total population. Indeed, last year, it announced the start of a for those over 55 who met a financial threshold, as well as to obtain tax-free salaries.
Will other policies like those that restrict Emirati nationality being passed down to children of non-Emirati men be changed? |
In addition, at the end of 2020, the country, in an effort to "," ended a ban on unmarried couples cohabitating and decriminalised alcohol. Such changes are an important signal, particularly to expatriates and to the world ahead of the Expo, that the UAE hopes to become a more hospitable social environment for expatriates - or at least for some of them, mainly western white-collar workers.
Currently, Emirati citizenship will be made available to. It remains unclear what the threshold will be for individuals to be considered investors eligible for citizenship, as well as what rights they would obtain - for instance, would they ever be able to vote in elections for the Federal National Council? And will other policies like those that restrict Emirati nationality being passed down to children of non-Emirati men be changed?
Dr Courtney Freer is a research fellow at LSE Middle East Centre.
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