The UAE will give citizenship to foreign residents who "add value" to the nation. It is a bold change of the UAE's immigration policy. The UAE Vice-President Sheikh Mohammed wants people with "specialised talents" to "contribute to our development journey". Artists, engineers, entrepreneurs, intellectuals, inventors and scientists could be eligible for a UAE passport. Successful people and their families would be allowed to hold dual nationality.
The citizenship procedure depends on recommendations from members of the UAE royal family or government officials. The UAE cabinet will then approve or reject these. There are "clear criteria" in the selection process. Doctors must be specialised in high-priority fields and have done significant research. Scientists must be active researchers and have an international award or research grant. Inventors need patented inventions.