Saudi local media reported on Wednesday that a royal decree had been issued approving the modification of one of the articles of the nationality system relating to the granting of citizenship to those born in the country.
The “Okaz” newspaper said that the decree provides for the modification of Article 8 of the Saudi nationality system “by replacing the sentence with an order of the prime minister on the proposal of the interior minister, to replace the sentence with a decision of the minister of the Internal”, as reported by the official newspaper “Umm Al-Qura”.
He added: “Article 8 of the Saudi nationality system provided, prior to the amendment, that Saudi nationality could be granted, by decision of the Minister of Interior, to anyone born within the Kingdom of a foreign father and a foreign mother. Saudi Arabia, if the required conditions are met”.
In the recent period, the Gulf countries, led by Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, have taken unprecedented steps in opening the door to naturalization and granting permanent residency to qualified and experienced individuals, in an attempt to develop the economy and getting ready for the post-oil era.
In May 2019, Saudi Arabia approved the preferred residency scheme within the Kingdom’s Vision 2030, which offers the beneficiary a number of benefits in exchange for a one-time fee to obtain permanent residency, or annually in exchange for the obtaining a temporary residence with the same benefits.
