Saudi Arabia grants citizenship to first group of expatriates

Saudi Arabia has granted citizenship to a group of expatriates including doctors, clerics and academics, becoming the second Gulf Arab state to introduce a formal naturalization programme for foreigners with exceptional skills this year.

The announcement follows a royal decree issued last Thursday which grants citizenship to “experts and exceptional global talents” who will contribute to the growth of the kingdom under its ambitious reform plans, state news agency SPA reported last week.

Foreigners in Saudi Arabia usually have renewable visas valid for only a few years and tied to employment.

The naturalization programme will seek out individuals in Islamic scholarship, medicine, science, culture, sports and technology with a view to creating an “attractive environment” to cultivate and retain exceptional talent to help achieve Vision 2030 goals, SPA said.

Vision 2030 is a plan of reforms to create jobs and reduce the Saudi economy’s dependence on oil.