UAE Passport: Citizenship Challenges and Residency Alternatives for Investors

The United Arab Emirates passport is one of the most coveted travel documents for global mobility. It is widely regarded as one of the strongest passports in the world, ranking on or near the top of several passport indexes, due to the visa-free or visa-on-arrival access it provides to countries across the world. 

In this article, we’ll review the full range of benefits of holding a UAE passport. We’ll also discuss how you may get one as a non-citizen, and why applying for a long-term residency might be a better choice than seeking citizenship in the country.

United Arab Emirates Passport: An Overview

The United Arab Emirates passport is the official travel document issued by the UAE’s Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship, Customs and Port Security.

In its current form, the UAE passport is a blue book containing features that make it machine-readable, with personal and biometric data encrypted on a microchip. The document has a validity period of:

• 10 years for holders who are 21 or older
• Five years for holders who are younger than 21

The passport has more than a practical value to UAE nationals. The progress from each Emirate issuing its own passport to having a single passport issued across the whole country is a strong symbol of the unity of the seven Emirates.

Still, the UAE passport derives much of its status from its practical value, allowing its holder to enter 179 countries without a visa or through a simplified entry procedure. 

Which Countries Offer Visa-Free Entry to UAE Passport Holders?

The UAE passport provides visa-free entry into 127 countries. As a holder, you can get a visa on arrival in 44 countries, or apply for pre-screening in eight. With a UAE passport, you need a regular visa to enter only 19 countries. 

The countries that allow visa-free entry to UAE passport holders include:

Region	Countries
Europe	Albania, Andorra, Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Kosovo, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, North Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russian Federation, San Marino, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine, Vatican City
North and Central America and the Caribbean	Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominica, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Grenada, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Saint Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines
South America	Angola, Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Uruguay
Africa	Botswana, Burkina Faso, Chad, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Eswatini, Gambia, Mali, Mauritius, Morocco, Mozambique, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, South Africa, Sudan, Tonga, Tunisia, Zambia
Asia	Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Brunei, China, Georgia, Hong Kong, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Macao, Malaysia, Mongolia, Pakistan, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Tajikistan, Thailand, Uzbekistan
Oceania	Fiji, Kiribati, Micronesia, Nauru, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu
Middle East	Iran, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Palestinian Territories, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Turkiye

Notable exclusions from the list are: 

• Australia and the United States, which require a regular visa
• Canada and the United Kingdom, which require an electronic travel authorization 

Can Foreigners Get a UAE Passport?

The United Arab Emirates passport can only be issued to UAE citizens. As a foreigner, you’d have to become a naturalized citizen to acquire a UAE passport.

Prior to January 2021, the UAE didn’t have an immigration program that allowed foreigners to apply for naturalization. In an effort to attract more foreign investors and talent whose contributions would benefit the country, the law governing nationality and passports was amended to allow the acquisition of citizenship through nomination. 

UAE Citizenship Requirements 

According to the new rules, here is what makes you eligible for a UAE citizenship:

1. A profession that falls under one of the eligible categories (investor, doctor, specialist, inventor, scientist, intellectual, artistic, or creative talent) and meets the category-specific requirements
2. A nomination by federal entities 

The category-specific requirements are as follows: 

Category	Requirements
Investor	Owning property in the UAE
Doctor or specialist	Specializing in a discipline of high demand in the UAE, with at least 10 years of recognized practical experience, and membership in a reputable professional organization in your field of expertise
Scientist	Being an active researcher with at least 10 years of practical experience
Inventor	Owning at least one patent approved by the Ministry of Economy or another internationally recognized body
Intellectuals or talent	Being regarded as a pioneer in your field with at least one international award

If approved for citizenship, you will be required to:

• Take an oath of allegiance to the UAE
• Commit you’ll follow the country’s laws
• Keep the government informed of status changes with any other citizenship you might hold

Prospects of Gaining UAE Citizenship and Passport

The new rules outline a pathway to obtaining UAE citizenship and eventually being issued a passport. In practice, however, the process involves several limitations that make successful outcomes rare:

• Unclear eligibility criteria: Requirements for categories are not clearly defined. For example, there is no information on the required size or value of the property that an investor must own 
• Discretionary nomination process: There are no publicly available criteria that an applicant has to meet to get a nomination by a federal entity
• Discretionary approval: Even nominated candidates are not guaranteed citizenship, since every application requires approval from the Rulers’ and Crown Princes’ Courts, Offices of the Executive Councils, and the Cabinet
• Limited program scope: Only a small number of categories are eligible, limiting access for categories such as business investors 

For the purposes of long-term investment or residence planning, focusing on a program with as many unknowns and discretionary elements might be impractical. For a more secure pathway to the benefits of residing in the UAE, you should consider pursuing long-term residency in the country instead.

Is UAE Residency a Good Alternative to Citizenship?

If you’re a foreign national looking to live or invest in the UAE, applying for a long-term residency through programs such as the UAE Golden Visa can give you much more predictability and most of the benefits of citizenship, including:

• The right to reside in a country renowned for its safety
• Access to high-quality healthcare and education
• Strong international economic opportunities, thanks to an unprecedented influx of foreign high-net-worth individuals, entrepreneurs, and talent
• No income, capital gains, or inheritance tax
• A high-quality lifestyle 

Unlike citizenship, which is granted only in exceptional circumstances, residency programs are developed specifically to facilitate the entry of investors, entrepreneurs, and select professionals into the country. 

Each residence pathway has clear eligibility criteria and is renewable, allowing you to plan for your family and finances in the long term. And since most programs don’t have a residence requirement, they also offer you the flexibility of freely traveling and living outside of the UAE during your residency. 

How To Qualify for UAE Residency by Investment

The UAE Golden Visa program for investors outlines three types of investment that will grant you eligibility: 

1. A fixed-term bank deposit
2. Real estate investment
3. Investment in an Accredited UAE investment fund or a UAE company

Fixed Term Deposit With a UAE Bank

Making a fixed-term deposit in the UAE is the most straightforward path to gaining residency in the country, and it requires the least involvement on your part. When making the deposit, you have to meet the following criteria:

• You have to deposit at least AED 2 million 
• The deposit needs to be made with an accredited bank in the UAE
• You can also make the deposit in the form of bonds or Sukuks
• It has to be a fixed-term deposit with a two-year term
• You have to keep the investment for a duration of two years

When applying for residency, you’ll have to provide an official bank certificate showing that you’ve made the deposit and that it’s fixed for a two-year term. If your application is successful, you will be awarded a 10-year renewable residency.

Real Estate Investment 

The real estate investment pathway to UAE residency will require greater involvement on your part, as it necessitates purchasing real estate in the country. 

The criteria of the pathway include:

• You have to purchase a property valued at a minimum of AED 2 million
• You can purchase multiple properties with a combined value of at least AED 2 million
• In case you’re the co-owner of a property, your share in it has to be valued at AED 2 million at a minimum
• You will be required to place a lien on the property to ensure you hold it throughout your residency

You will have to prove the ownership of a property and its price with an official document from the Real Estate Registration Department or, if you’re applying in Dubai, the Dubai Land Department. The residency term under this pathway is 10 years, and it’s renewable. 

Investment in an Accredited UAE Investment Fund or a UAE Company

As an investor in a company in the UAE, you can satisfy the conditions for residency in one of the following ways:

1. Submit a letter from an investment fund accredited in the UAE stating that you have a deposit of AED 2 million
2. Submit a valid commercial licence or industrial licence and a memorandum of association stating that the capital is not less than AED 2 million
3. Submit a letter from the Federal Tax Authority stating that you’ll pay the government no less than AED 250,000 annually

The documents proving your eligibility under this category include your company’s financial report issued by an accredited audit firm, a valid trade licence, a bank statement, and tax registration with tax receipts for the previous year. 

If you want to apply as a tax investor, you’ll have to provide a trade licence for your company and a tax certificate from the Federal Tax Authority. Your residency term will be 10 years, with the option to renew.

Considerations When Applying for UAE Residency as an Investor

The UAE doesn’t require you to enter the country to apply for residency as an investor. You can complete most of the application process online, except the required medical examination that has to be performed within the country. 

Additionally, when applying for a UAE residency, you should take the following into consideration: 

• The total cost of acquiring residency includes the costs of setting up the investment, which might be the lowest when making a deposit
• You will be required to purchase health insurance and obtain a national ID
• The continuation of your permit and its renewal depend on you maintaining the conditions of your residency throughout its term
• You will be able to sponsor family members to come with you to the UAE, with their residency permits lasting as long as yours

Finding the right investment is often the most difficult step. Even something as simple as choosing the right bank for your deposit can have consequences on the status of your residency, if an erroneously blocked account falsely suggests you’re not maintaining your investment. 

The more complex the investment method, the bigger effect unforeseen issues can have on your immigration status in the UAE. To make sure you choose a property, bank, or company that will facilitate maintaining your investment, reach out to Nomad Capitalist. 

Achieve Your UAE Relocation Goals Smoothly With Nomad Capitalist

Nomad Capitalist is a strategic advisory firm offering tax optimization, global mobility, and investment planning services. We’ve helped more than 1,500 clients find new financial opportunities and a more suitable lifestyle by investing or moving abroad. 

Our specialist agents create an individual Action Plan for each client, where they:

• Identify the foreign jurisdiction with the most tax-friendly legal landscape
• Provide advice on the businesses or investment vehicles that meet the appropriate residency requirements
• Detail the steps for acquiring the residency 

To ensure we create an Action Plan that aligns with your specific goals, we’ve developed a strategic collaboration process that yields the most favorable results. We start by asking you to fill out a form that helps us determine whether we’re a good match. If so:

1. We schedule a 45-minute interview with you to learn more about your circumstances and goals
2. Our team develops an Action Plan for your specific situation and presents it to you
3. We start the implementation of the Plan, a process that can last up to a year
4. After the Plan is implemented, we continue providing lifelong support 

If acquiring residency in the UAE is supportive of your long-term financial goals, our team of specialists will guide you every step of the way. We can also help you identify a country that better suits your needs, especially if you’re looking for a second citizenship. Whichever path you choose, Nomad Capitalist is there to provide expert assistance.