[Middle East] UAE and Saudi Arabia could grant citizenship to expats

The Economist has predicted that UAE and Saudi Arabia may consider granting citizenship to expats as both countries prepare for an oil-free future, ProPakistani reports.

The UAE alone has an expat population of around 90 per cent (10 million) and many have been residents in the country for several years without citizenship. And the country reportedly hopes to attract an additional 3-5 million people in the future.

As UAE and Saudi Arabia explore options for a move away from oil, reporting from The Economist says that expats may start demanding more rights, including the right to citizenship.

The UAE and Saudi Arabia currently produce 14 million barrels of oil per day but that situation is likely to be unsustainable in the longer term making it important to adapt to an oil-free economy.

There is precedent for change in both countries. For example, Saudi women were prevented from driving for many years but now they can. This has reportedly led to an increase in the female workforce from 17 per cent in 2017 to 37 per cent this year. 

As Gulf countries transition away from oil, providing citizenship to expats could be an important strategy in attracting and retaining a foreign workforce.

Source: ProPakistani

The Economist has predicted that UAE and Saudi Arabia may consider granting citizenship to expats as both countries prepare for an oil-free future, ProPakistani reports.

The UAE alone has an expat population of around 90 per cent (10 million) and many have been residents in the country for several years without citizenship. And the country reportedly hopes to attract an additional 3-5 million people in the future.

As UAE and Saudi Arabia explore options for a move away from oil, reporting from The Economist says that expats may start demanding more rights, including the right to citizenship.

The UAE and Saudi Arabia currently produce 14 million barrels of oil per day but that situation is likely to be unsustainable in the longer term making it important to adapt to an oil-free economy.

There is precedent for change in both countries. For example, Saudi women were prevented from driving for many years but now they can. This has reportedly led to an increase in the female workforce from 17 per cent in 2017 to 37 per cent this year. 

As Gulf countries transition away from oil, providing citizenship to expats could be an important strategy in attracting and retaining a foreign workforce.

Source: ProPakistani