Kuwait mulling citizenship for Expats
From ArabianBusiness.com
Kuwait is mulling a plan to offer citizenship to skilled foreign workers as it struggles to compete with Dubai for expatriate talent, a government advisor has said
The Gulf state needs to attract top-level workers if it is to diversify its economy away from oil revenues, said Dr Sami Alfaraj, president of the Kuwait Center for Strategic Studies.
Kuwait’s view is that “Dubai gets the crème of expats and we get the lower end, especially the uneducated ones.”
Kuwait’s parliament is considering giving citizenship to top expatriate workers and their families as a means to fast-track the overhaul of its economy, Dr Alfaraj said.
“As long as we have the Kuwaiti parliament they will push for more nationalisation policies. Kuwaitis see the expat community as part of the fabric of society.”
whyteknight said "... People come to Middle east for a few years, make some money and head back home. Not many want to settle down permanently here."
Not true of all. Money isn't everything in life... but then again, of course, as my pals pointed out before, I don't have 5 kids to put through college...
Good for them.
Dubai is one thing, Kuwait is a whole different kettle of fish.
Money talks..
Plus the lure of good weather, low crime rate, maids, drivers etc etc will definitely lure many.
Dubai became a sort of status symbol for the rich during the past decade. Everyone wanted to have a home there, can't see Kuwait coming even remotely close to that. Let's see.
BE, a lot of sub continent expats make homes in Dubai or Qatar, not for the citizenship, but to avoid paying full tax. (NRI's have to pay tax if they are in the country for more than a certain number of days).
So they shunt between the subcontinent & ME or other countries. Mostly ME cos it's just a few hours away.
Legal loophole
They should start now inshaallah
I agree that there will not be hordes, but there will be many.
Look at Qatar or Dubai and see how many Expats have or want to make permanent homes here...
How about naturalising their own citizens first!
Some people have a wrong notion in their head that every expat will start applying for citizenship once they start giving it out.
People come to Middle east for a few years, make some money and head back home. Not many want to settle down permanently here.
I doubt many skilled workers will be queueing up for this.
"Skilled foreign workers" would give a shyte to live in the Gulf! It's only the "unskilled" who would be interested. But I doubt that even they would want to live in a totalitarian system with no democracy.
Wise move, but who will be interested?
You devil you..
Wife in Philipines and GF in in Qatar..
flanostu. lol your funny man! love your humour.
A smart move, which I think Qatar should have taken that initiative, considering the higher ratio of expats/national than Kuwait.
It is not true that only Arabs would be interested, considering all the perks the nationals of Kuwait enjoy, even Americans will apply for a second citizenship.
i'll try anything once
Can you how unfair it would be if someone goes abroad and leaves their family in other countries. I have been an ofw there in Qatar and had a gf there leaving my family behind in the phil. when i gpot back in the Phil it just made me realize how unfair that was for my family who are left in the phil.
I think Expats, especially higher end wont find this very attractive in countries like Kuwait, Oman, Bahrain etc.
gulf states are likely to become progressive in competing each other...
I bet only their fellow arabs would be interested.
A Good Step if they apply it ..
Its aimed at attracting high end and skilled workers for the oil industry.
impossible... and guess no one would be interested as well...