How to Get UAE Citizenship in 2026: Who Can Be Nominated and the Realistic Route for Investors

Can you buy UAE citizenship?

No. The United Arab Emirates does not operate a citizenship-by-investment programme. There is no fixed price, no donation option and no application portal for Emirati nationality. Programmes such as those in St Kitts and Nevis or Vanuatu accept applications from investors who meet published criteria; the UAE does not work that way.

What changed in 2021 is that the UAE amended the Executive Regulation of its Federal Law on Nationality and Passports. Since then, certain categories of foreign nationals and their families can be granted Emirati nationality. The decision sits entirely with the UAE authorities, and the process starts with a nomination, not with an application from the individual. The announcement was made on 30 January 2021 by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE (Dubai Media Office).

Who can be nominated for Emirati nationality?

According to the official announcement, the following categories can be considered, together with their spouse and children:

• Investors: required to own a property in the UAE.
• Doctors and specialists: specialised in a discipline that is highly required in the UAE, with acknowledged scientific contributions and practical experience of at least 10 years.
• Scientists: active researchers at a university, research centre or in the private sector, with at least 10 years of practical experience in the same field.
• Inventors: holders of one or more patents approved by the UAE Ministry of Economy or another reputable international body.
• Intellectuals, artists and creative talents: pioneers in culture and the arts who have won one or more international awards.

Meeting these conditions does not create a right to nationality. It only makes a person someone who could be nominated. Nationality holders must also swear an oath of allegiance, commit to abide by UAE law, and officially inform the authorities if they acquire or lose any other nationality.

How does the UAE nomination process work?

The official announcement states that Emirati citizenship is granted through nominations from the Rulers' and Crown Princes' Courts, the Executive Councils and the Cabinet, based on nominations from federal entities. The Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP) is the federal body responsible for identity and nationality services.

In practice this means:

• You cannot submit your own citizenship application online or at a service centre.
• No lawyer, consultant or agent can apply for UAE citizenship on your behalf or guarantee a nomination.
• The authorities do not publish a timeline, because each case is decided individually.

If someone offers to obtain a UAE passport for a fee, or sends you a link to a "UAE citizenship application", treat it as a warning sign and verify through official government channels before sharing documents or paying anything.

Is there a path to UAE citizenship through long residence?

The Federal Nationality Law of 1972 also provides for naturalisation after long periods of lawful residence, with conditions that include Arabic language ability, lawful means of income and good conduct. The required residence periods are long, particularly for non-Arab nationals, and the grant remains discretionary. For almost all expatriates and investors, residency in the UAE should therefore be planned as residency, not as a route to a passport.

What is the realistic route for investors: the UAE Golden Visa

For investors, the practical and predictable option is the UAE Golden Visa, a long-term residence permit administered by the federal and emirate authorities (official UAE Government portal).

• Property route: one or more properties in the UAE with a total value of at least AED 2 million (about USD 545,000). Since February 2026, off-plan and mortgaged properties can qualify; the total property value is what counts.
• Validity: a renewable 10-year residence visa.
• Family: spouse and children can be sponsored, and parents in many cases.
• No minimum stay: living outside the UAE does not cancel the visa.
• Processing: typically around 2 to 3 months for the investor route, depending on the emirate and the completeness of the file.

The Golden Visa gives you the right to live, work, invest and educate your children in the UAE, with access to its tax environment of no personal income tax (see our guide to UAE taxes). It does not give you Emirati nationality or a UAE passport, and holding it does not create an entitlement to a citizenship nomination. You can compare it with other residency options in our guide to the best golden visa programmes, and read what daily life looks like in living in Dubai.

Planning a move to the UAE? Book a free consultation and we will check which Golden Visa route fits your investment and family.

What if your real goal is a second passport?

If what you need is a second citizenship, for travel freedom, family security or a Plan B, the UAE is not the place to look for it. Several countries grant citizenship to investors through established, law-based programmes with published requirements and due diligence:

• St Kitts and Nevis citizenship by investment, the longest-running programme in the world.
• Vanuatu citizenship by investment, known for fast processing.
• Dominica and Grenada in the Caribbean.

Many families combine the two: a UAE Golden Visa as their home and business base, and a citizenship-by-investment passport for mobility. Our comparison of the best citizenship by investment programmes sets out costs, timelines and travel access side by side.

Can family members be included?

Yes. The 2021 rules extend eligibility to the families of the nominated person, meaning their spouse and children. Children born to a UAE national father acquire Emirati nationality by descent under the nationality law. For the Golden Visa, the principal holder can sponsor a spouse and children, and in many cases parents.

Do you have to give up your current nationality?

Under the 2021 amendments, people granted Emirati nationality in these categories are allowed to retain their current nationality. Whether that works in practice also depends on your home country: some countries do not allow their citizens to hold another nationality. Take independent legal advice on your home country's rules.

What are the benefits of Emirati nationality?

For the small number of people granted it, Emirati nationality brings full civic status in one of the most stable economies in the region and one of the world's strongest passports, with visa-free, visa-on-arrival or eTA access to more than 180 destinations. Most of the day-to-day advantages investors look for, such as no personal income tax, a safe base for the family and world-class infrastructure, are already available with long-term residency through the Golden Visa.