Job Discussion Forums

[moneyoriented]

Is it possible for a Westerner to become a citizen of one of the GCC countries? If so, how?

Is it even possible for a Westerner to marry a GCC citizen? And if so, could this lead to citizenship?

Just wondering...

[007]

"Currently only Saudi Arabia and Qatar have an official policy of granting citizenship to expatriates.

In Saudi Arabia foreign workers must have lived in the country for at least 10 years before they can apply for citizenship, with preference given to those holding doctorates in medicine, engineering and other sciences and those Saudi family relations.

In Qatar expatriates must have lived in the country for more than 25 years and have a sufficient level of proficiency in Arabic, have a reasonably good standard of living and have not been convicted of any criminal offence. Priority is given to those whose mothers are Qatari nationals.

The UAE, Bahrain and Oman have do not allow expatriates to become citizens except in exceptional circumstances when an individual has provided outstanding service to the country.

The UAE last week ruled out any chance of expatriates being awarded citizenship - no matter how long they work in the Emirates.

Labour minister Ali Abdulla Al Kaabi on Wednesday flatly rejected calls to give foreign workers who have lived in the UAE for at least five years the option of applying for citizenship"
Source: http://www.arabianbusiness.com/506556-gcc-residents-demand-gulf-states-grant-citizenship?ln=en

The second route to get citizenship in the GCC, is to have close relationship and Wasta with one of 'supreme' King, Ameer (like Uncle Bandar), or the Sultan in which case he can offer you the citizenship under 'specific' circumstances!

The third option, which I do not recommend, is to buy a forged passport of one of the GCC countries, but you have to pay a high price to the ringleaders in Nigeria, Pakistan, India, or Russia!!

[helenl]

A male expat (from any country) would only be granted citizenship under the circumstances noted in the previous posting. Marrying a national of any of these countries would be extremely difficult and only permitted if they (a) converted to Islam (as was the case for an acquaintance of mine) and (b) her family permitted it - it's not her decision to make.

Further, many of the GCC countries do not confer citizenship on the progeny of a male expat and national lady. Many children are not allowed to attend UAE public schools because they don't have UAE citizenship status. This is changing slightly in that "expat" children are now being permitted (for a fee) to attend Emirati schools.

[15yearsinQ8]

expat women can marry kuwaiti men - the kuwaiti man can file an application for kuwaiti citizenship for her. officiially it takes 12 years waiting, with gulf women and women of western nationalities tending to get it earlier if their husbands push it.
otherwise expats cannot attain kuwaiti citizenship although groups of palestinians were given such in the 1960's -80's

expat husbands of kuwaiti women are never given citizenship.

[Cleopatra]

Your posts are making it seem that you are desperate and/or just a tad bit unrealistic. You also appear to think that the Gulf states are ATM machines there for your benefit.

The fact of the matter is that even Arabic-speaking Muslims who originate from neighbouring countries, and whose families have lived in a Gulf country for generations, often find it extremely hard to get citizenship in the GCC countries. I personally know of many people who have lived all of their lives in Riyadh and have never known any other home, and yet are still legally Yemeni or Sudanese - even though they have never visited their 'homeland'.

In other words, in case it's not already clear, forget all about it.

[scot47]

For a Saudi to matrry a non-Saudi, permission from the Ministry of the Interior is required. You have zero chance of citizenship.

Why not just come here and work like the other 5 million foreign workers in KSA ?

[miski]

Is somebody taking the piss here?
Moneyoriented......marry a GCC citizen.....get nationality.
Get a life.

[scot47]

Is this dude a troll ?

[veiledsentiments]

Perhaps... or just clueless about the Middle East?

VS

[moneyoriented]

No piss, no troll...and not exactly clueless either. Just curious to hear exactly what the situation was, and if it might've changed any recently. Many thanks to those of you who gave thoughtful answers.