The United Arab Emirates on Saturday introduced plans to grant some foreigners citizenship to this oil-rich nation dwelling to Abu Dhabi and Dubai, a part of efforts to stimulate its economic system amid the coronavirus pandemic.
The UAE beforehand gave citizenship to Palestinians and others who helped kind the nation’s authorities after its formation in 1971. Others have obtained it over time as effectively.
Saturday’s announcement by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the ruler of Dubai who additionally serves because the autocratic nation’s prime minister and vice chairman, stated the provide may apply to artists, authors, docs, engineers and scientists, in addition to their households.
Sheikh Mohammed wrote on Twitter that hereditary rulers within the nation’s seven emirates and on the federal degree would nominate these for citizenship. Those granted citizenship additionally would have the ability to maintain their preliminary citizenship.
It wasn’t instantly clear if the citizenship additionally would grant rights to the UAE’s cradle-to-grave social programmes for its nationals.
The UAE is dwelling to over 9 million folks, solely a tenth of them residents. In November, the UAE introduced plans to overtake the nation’s Islamic private legal guidelines, permitting single {couples} to cohabitate, loosening alcohol restrictions and criminalising so-called honour killings.
