The kingdom has just announced that it would be granting citizenships to foreign workers in the country who are working in the likes of the medical and tech sectors.
The announcement came as part of a royal decree which contributes to a bigger plan that is looking to “naturalize innovators, scientists, and intellectuals from all around the world.”
A Saudi official entity had conveyed this on social media and stated that this citizenship scheme for such workers looks to back the expansion of Saudi Arabia as a place of diversity.
For foreigners in a number of Gulf countries, including Saudi Arabia, it has been near enough impossible to obtain citizenship and be naturalized, and the only people, in the past, getting citizenships were the foreign wives of Saudi nationals.
This is everything we know about the new citizenship scheme so far…
The new scheme is another first for Saudi Arabia and will also be a historic moment, as the kingdom has rarely ever granted citizenship to foreign workers. Prior to 1970, anyone, including foreigners, born in the country would be granted citizenship – that has changed since.
If a foreigner has been a permanent resident within the kingdom for over 5 years, Saudi Arabia’s citizenship laws allow for them to be naturalized. However, due to the kafala system, expats are only able to live in the kingdom under renewable visas sponsored by Saudi nationals.
The kingdom’s new citizenship scheme too falls under Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's Vision 2030, as the country looks to diversify and become less reliant on oil revenues. The new scheme is set to be a lucrative move with hopes that it will encourage foreign investments.
In order to be eligible for naturalization as a foreigner within Saudi Arabia, particular criteria are to be met. The royal decree focuses on the following:
- Members of displaced tribes in the kingdom
- Residents who were born to Saudi person before the idea of citizenship was applied in the kingdom
- Experts in forensic and medical science, technology, agriculture, nuclear and renewable energy
- Experts in oil/gas and artificial intelligence
- Yemeni expats based in the kingdom
- Individuals involved in arts, sports, and culture
