Saudi Arabia Allows Foreigners to Get Citizenship Under New Amendment

VIVA – Crown Prince Mohammed passes a law allowing foreigners to obtain Saudi Arabia citizenship. The decision was made public on the official Twitter account of the Makkah Al-Mukarramah, quoting the Ministry of Home Affairs.

The amendment was published in the official gazette Um Al Qura on Friday. In January, a royal decree was issued to approve the amendment of Article Eight of the Saudi Nationality Law, becoming law on March 13. 

According to the amendment, a person born to a Saudi mother and a foreign father may apply for citizenship upon meeting the following criteria: they must be over the age of 18, must be fluent in the Arabic language, must have "good conduct and behavior", and should not have been imprisoned for more than six months.

However, some activists have already expressed concerns over the changes to the law, arguing that it will make it even more difficult for Saudi women to attain naturalization for their children with more legal hurdles.

Currently, children whose father is Saudi nationals are automatically get citizenship, which is the case for most states in the region.

Meanwhile, in November 2021, the kingdom passed a royal decree granting citizenship to "experts and exceptional global talents," becoming the second Gulf state after the UAE to introduce formal naturalization program for foreigners with specialized skills.