Can UAE nationals and Dubai residents get Turkish citizenship by investment?

Yes. Turkish citizenship by investment is open to UAE nationals and Dubai residents on the same terms as other foreign nationals. Under Article 12/1-b of the Turkish Citizenship Law No. 5901 and Article 20 of its Implementing Regulation, it is enough to complete one of the qualifying investments and obtain an investor residence permit; citizenship is then granted by Presidential decision. There is no prior-residence or Turkish-language requirement.

• Real estateAt least USD 400,000, with a three-year no-sale annotation on the title deed. The most common route.
• Bank deposit, government bonds, fund shares, private pensionAt least USD 500,000 each, held for three years.
• Fixed capital investmentAt least USD 500,000, confirmed by the Ministry of Industry and Technology.
• Job creationEmployment of at least 50 people, confirmed by the Ministry of Labour.

Under Article 35 of the Land Registry Law No. 2644, foreigners may buy property in Türkiye if their country is among those designated by the President, outside military and security zones and within area limits. Eligibility of the nationality and the specific property should be confirmed before any payment. Expatriates resident in Dubai apply under their own nationality; residence in the UAE does not change which country’s rules apply to them.

Property types, payment rules, the Currency Purchase Certificate (DAB) and the certificate of conformity are explained in detail in our Turkish citizenship by investment guide; this page focuses on what is specific to UAE nationals and Dubai residents.

Dual citizenship under UAE law

Emirati citizens

• Article 15(c) of Federal Law No. 17 of 1972: a UAE national is deprived of UAE nationality if he willingly becomes a naturalised national of a foreign state.
• Under Article 14, a female UAE national married to a foreigner keeps her nationality unless she acquires her husband’s nationality.
• The UAE’s programmes that let some foreigners become Emirati while keeping their original nationality apply in the opposite direction and do not help Emiratis acquiring Turkish citizenship.

Expatriates in Dubai and the other emirates

Dubai is an emirate, not a separate country. Pakistani, Indian, Egyptian, Iranian, Russian, British and other residents of Dubai apply for Turkish citizenship as nationals of their own country. Whether they can keep their nationality depends on their home country’s law; see our guides for Pakistani, Egyptian and Bangladeshi citizens.

UAE documents: legalisation via the UAE MOFA

The UAE is not a party to the Hague Apostille Convention. Documents issued in the UAE (for example a marriage certificate registered in Dubai, a UAE police clearance or a UAE notarised power of attorney) follow the legalisation route: issuing authority or notary, then attestation by the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs, then legalisation by the Embassy of Türkiye in Abu Dhabi or the Consulate General in Dubai.

• Documents issued by your home country (birth certificate, passport-related records) follow that country’s route: apostille if it is a Convention party, otherwise legalisation.
• All foreign documents are then translated into Turkish by a sworn translator in Türkiye and notarised.

Visa, travel and power of attorney

According to the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, UAE ordinary passport holders are exempt from visa for up to 90 days in any 180-day period. Expatriates in Dubai follow the visa regime of their own passport.

• Embassy of Türkiye in Abu DhabiAbu Dhabi emirate.
• Consulate General of Türkiye in DubaiCovers Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain, Ras Al Khaimah and Fujairah.

A power of attorney for the Turkish purchase can be issued at these missions or before a UAE notary and legalised, then translated into Turkish.

Transferring funds from the UAE

The UAE does not apply general foreign-exchange controls; the dirham is pegged to the US dollar. Dubai residents often pay from UAE bank accounts. The Turkish requirements are the same for everyone: payment by bank transfer in the investor’s name, SWIFT records, sale of the foreign currency to a Turkish bank and a Currency Purchase Certificate (DAB). If funds originate in a third country, keep the transfer history.

Spouse and children

Under Article 12/1-b of Law No. 5901, the investor’s foreign spouse and the minor (under 18) or dependent children of the investor and spouse are included in the same file without additional investment. Parents and siblings are not covered and need their own investment.

• Where there is more than one spouse, only one spouse can be included, because of Turkish public order.
• For children from another marriage, the other parent’s consent or a custody document may be requested.
• For a child close to 18, the file should be prepared early, as the process can take time.

For expatriate families in Dubai, marriage and birth certificates are often issued in different countries; each follows its own apostille or legalisation route.