In July 2024, Saudi Arabia launched its new program that grants Saudi citizenship to global talents in religious, medical, scientific, cultural, sports, and technological fields.
In this article, we’ll cover more details about the program, the main requirements to apply for it, and the steps that you need to follow to take part in it.
Key Takeaways
- The purpose of the new Saudi Arabia citizenship law is to grant citizenship to international scientists, doctors, innovators, and other domain experts in specific fields.
- To be eligible for this program, you need to be at least 18 years old, have a clean criminal record, have professional qualifications, and be ready to align with the Saudi Vision 2030. It’s also advisable to be in good health, be ready to reside in Saudi Arabia, and obtain endorsements from Saudi institutions.
What is This new Saudi Arabian Citizenship Law About?
A recent royal decree has announced an addition to the Saudi Arabian citizenship code, that aims to grant citizenship to international scientists, researchers, doctors, entrepreneurs, innovators, distinguished talents, and other renowned people with specific areas of skill and specialization. The purpose of this new law addition is to achieve the Saudi Vision 2030 goal, which was about creating a welcoming atmosphere for domain experts of the specified fields who want to contribute to the development of Saudi Arabia’s economy.
This law is very similar to another loyal decree that was previously launched in 2021 and granted citizenships to the first group of select distinguished talent in these fields.
Many people have already acquired Saudi citizenship with this program. Among them is Mehmood Khan, an American recognized for his contributions to health sciences and for serving as the CEO of the Hevolution Foundation.
American scientist Jackie Yi-Ru Ying, born in Singapore, was also granted Saudi citizenship. Ying is the head of the NanoBio Lab and was the founding Executive Director of the Institute of Bioengineering and Nanotechnology in Singapore.
Noreddine Khashab, a Lebanese scientist renowned for her expertise in bioengineering and nanomaterials, received Saudi citizenship as well.
Additionally, French scientist Noreddine Ghaffour, an expert in environmental engineering and desalination technology, was awarded Saudi citizenship. Ghaffour is a professor at KAUST and holds a PhD in membrane separation techniques from the University of Montpellier.
Main requirements
To be eligible to apply for this program, you must:
- Be at least 18 years old
- Have a clean criminal record
- Have professional and academic qualifications
- Show the ability to contribute significantly to Saudi Arabia's national development and align with Saudi Vision 2030
Among these requirements, other points (that are not directly specified in the eligibility criteria) can strengthen your application. Some of those points are:
- Be in good health
- Reside in Saudi Arabia and be willing to take part in its development
- Obtaining endorsements from Saudi institutions or notable figures
How to obtain Arabic citizenship through royal decree
- This Saudi citizenship law targets scientists, innovators, medical professionals, researchers, and other highly skilled experts. As an applicant, you must be a part of the chosen people.
- Choose a consulting agency that will guide you through the whole process, prepare all the necessary documents, and receive professional endorsements. Having rich experience in helping people acquire citizenship in foreign countries, contacting professionals from Mirabello Consultancy is a great choice.
- The applicants must provide substantial evidence of their contributions and potential benefits to Saudi Arabia.
- It’s highly possible that you’ll need endorsements from Saudi institutions or notable figures within the country.
- The government should evaluate your potential to contribute to the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 goals.
- Prior to obtaining Saudi citizenship, contribute to the country’s development and align with its values.
Conclusion
In this article, we’ve talked about Saudi Arabia’s new royal decree announcement, which was about granting citizenship to exceptional professionals in specific fields. We’ve also highlighted the main requirements and steps you should take to be a part of this program.
