Why second citizenship and European residency are becoming essential for Gulf-based expats
The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) has long been a magnet for ambitious professionals, investors, and families. With glittering skylines, world-class infrastructure, and vibrant business hubs, cities like Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Doha, and Riyadh remain among the most desirable destinations for expatriates in 2025.
According to reports, the UAE alone is expected to welcome more than 9,800 wealthy migrants this year, arriving from London, Mumbai, Frankfurt, Paris, Moscow, and Beijing. Yet behind this appeal lies an unspoken truth: most GCC countries offer little to no pathway to permanent residency or citizenship. For the millions who have built their lives in the region, it forces an inevitable question – what is the long-term plan?
The Expat Reality
Across the Gulf, expatriates are not just visitors. Some of them, if not most, have lived in the region for decades, started companies, built fortunes, and raised children who know the Gulf as their only home. And yet, their right to remain is tethered to employment, sponsorship, or investment. It is a life of extraordinary opportunity, but also one of dependency. A sudden shift in visa rules, a change in job status, or broader regional developments could alter an expat’s future overnight. Few are willing to leave, because the reasons for staying are powerful.
Why People Stay
The Gulf has created an environment unlike any other. In countries such as the UAE, residents pay no personal income tax, an advantage that allows professionals to keep every dirham of their salary. Corporate structures are equally attractive, with many jurisdictions offering low or even zero corporate tax rates, free zones that grant full foreign ownership, and generous exemptions on import and export duties. For high-net-worth individuals, these policies are more than incentives; they are transformative financial advantages.
But it is not only money that anchors people to the region. The quality of life in GCC countries is exceptionally high. Safe cities, world-class healthcare, international schools, and global institutions have made places like Dubai and Doha as familiar and comfortable as any European capital. For many expatriates, the Gulf is not a stopover, it is home. Communities have flourished, both local and international, and families who once came for career opportunities now find themselves deeply rooted in the region’s cultural and social fabric.
Still, for all its advantages, the Gulf cannot offer the one thing that secures long-term certainty: permanent belonging. While residency is relatively straightforward, citizenship is very rarely provided for those who are not natural citizens. And so, many are looking outward. Rather than uprooting their lives, they are seeking to complement their Gulf residency with a second citizenship or a European residency programme. This dual approach provides the best of both worlds, enjoying the tax advantages and lifestyle of the Gulf while gaining the security and mobility of Europe or beyond. In the UAE, the law allows residents to hold two passports, provided they follow both countries’ regulations and ensure their residency remains valid.
A Global Trend
According to the Wealth Report, more than a quarter of the world’s ultra-high-net-worth individuals are actively seeking a second passport. In the Middle East alone, there are nearly 18,800 UHNWIs, and this figure is expected to increase by 24.6 percent between 2021 and 2026. The region will remain the world’s fourth-largest wealth hub, with Saudi Arabia accounts for 15 billionaires and the UAE home to 24. For these individuals, second citizenship is not a luxury, it is a strategy.
The benefits are compelling. Residency in European countries provides direct access to the EU single market, supporting business expansion, asset diversification, and wealth protection, while also unlocking world-class education and healthcare. Children can attend European schools and universities, often at local tuition rates, and families gain access to advanced medical systems. In the Caribbean, Asia, and Oceania, wealthy investors also enjoy tax planning advantages and smoother intergenerational wealth transfers, helping preserve their legacy across jurisdictions.
Unlocking Opportunities in Europe
Residency by investment in Europe offers attractive pathways that combine visa-free access to the Schengen Area with family inclusion typically covering spouses, children, and dependent parents. These programs not only deliver global mobility but also long-term security and stability for families.
Among the most popular options, Portugal’s Golden Visa requires just €200,000 and uniquely offers citizenship after five years without residency obligations. The Greece Golden Visa, launched in 2013, provides a renewable five-year residence permit from €250,000 in real estate. For affordability, the Latvia Golden Visa starts at only €50,000 plus fees through real estate, business, or bank deposits. Other strong programs include Malta, with a minimum of €375,000 property purchase plus contribution, Hungary, with €250,000 in a real estate fund or a €1 million donation, Cyprus, offering residency with an investment of €300,000 in real estate or shares, Andorra, which requires €600,000 plus a refundable deposit, and Italy, with €250,000 invested in a start-up or joint-stock company.
Together, these programs provide flexible entry points across Europe, from low-cost residency routes to premium fast-track options, making the continent one of the most competitive destinations for investors.
Fast, Flexible, and Family-Friendly Options in the Caribbean
The Caribbean has long been a trusted destination for citizenship by investment, offering visa-free access to global hubs such as the UK, Schengen States, Singapore, and China, while including spouses, children, parents, and even siblings. These programs also support smooth intergenerational wealth planning, making them especially appealing for families.
The most affordable entry is Dominica, from USD 200,000, granting visa-free access to 142 countries. Antigua and Barbuda follows at USD 230,000, with broad family inclusion up to children aged 30 and siblings of any age. Grenada, from USD 235,000, is unique as the only Caribbean program with access to the U.S. E-2 Investor Visa. Saint Lucia requires USD 240,000 to obtain citizenship, while St. Kitts and Nevis, the pioneer since 1984, starts at USD 250,000 and provides visa-free access to 155 destinations including the UK, and Schengen.
Collectively, Caribbean programs remain some of the fastest, most cost-effective routes to global mobility, combining affordability with strategic advantages like U.S. market access.
Strategic Options in Oceania and Asia
Beyond Europe and the Caribbean, Oceania and Asia offer additional routes to citizenship. The Nauru Citizenship Program, launched in 2024, provides the lowest entry point at just USD 105,000 plus fees, with visa-free travel to 88 countries including the UK, UAE, Singapore, and Hong Kong. Vanuatu, from USD 130,000, is one of the fastest programs worldwide, granting citizenship in as little as two months and visa-free access to 97 countries. Turkey, with a minimum real estate investment of USD 400,000, remains highly attractive for its quick 2–5 month processing and visa-free access to 111 countries, including Japan, South Korea, and Singapore.
The Future for GCC Expats
For expatriates in the Gulf, these programmes represent more than mobility. They represent choice. Living in the GCC in 2025 continues to offer unparalleled opportunity but also comes with vulnerabilities that no amount of wealth can erase. A second citizenship or European residency is a safeguard, an assurance that families can decide what comes next, on their own terms.
At Citizenship Invest, we have spent years guiding expats across the GCC through these transformative decisions. Our role is not just to facilitate applications, but to help people secure their futures, preserve their wealth, and expand their horizons. In a world defined by uncertainty, freedom is no longer about where you live, but about the choices you can make. For expats in the Gulf, a second passport may well be the key to unlocking that freedom.
