UAE increases validity of Emirati passport from 5 years to 10 years

Gulf Today, Staff Reporter

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, during a Cabinet meeting held on Monday at Al Watan Palace in Abu Dhabi, approved the amendment of the executive regulations of the Federal Law on Citizenship and Passport. Upon this, the validity of the UAE passport has been increased from 5 to 10 years for those aged 21 years and above. In addition, he approved a national policy for the circulation and manufacture of biofuels in the UAE.

This was announced by His Highness today via “X” platform, as he said, “Today, we have approved a national policy for the circulation and manufacture of biofuels in the UAE. This decision demonstrates our commitment to providing clean, sustainable, and low-carbon energy sources.”

He added, “Furthermore, the executive regulations of the Federal Law on Citizenship and Passport have been amended, and the validity period of the UAE passport has been increased from 5 to 10 years for those aged 21 years and above. The authorities will provide more facilities and comprehensive digital services as part of the new amendments.”

Sheikh Mohammed said, “At it’s beginning, we reviewed the most important developments in the labour market in the country. The UAE ranked first in the world in the number of labour disputes according to the Global Competitiveness Yearbook, and also first in the world in its ability to attract talent according to the Prosperity Index, and third in the world.

In digital skills... today we have more than 7 million employees in all sectors under the umbrella of unemployment insurance, and 98.8% of our workforce is within the workers’ protection insurance system.”

Sheikh Mohammed also said, “Today, we adopted a new structure for the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation and the establishment of a coordinating council for the labor market in the country in support of the stability of the labour market and increasing its competitiveness. The workforce is the real engine of the economy. Following up on their affairs and providing protection for their rights are solid foundations for the growth of our national economy.”

Sheikh Mohammed said, “During the Cabinet meeting, we also reviewed the results of the “300 Billion” project... which we launched in 2021 to reach the industrial sector’s contribution to 300 billion dirhams in our domestic product by 2031... as the contribution currently reached Dhs197 billion dirhams in our output, up from Dhs132 billion... and we are on the way. The right way to achieve the goal, God willing... Since the launch of the National Content Program, which aims to introduce the national product into our industrial products, national spending has increased to reach Dhs67 billion dirhams in 2023... Developing the industrial sector represents a major national economic priority  and we are following up on this file by providing a lot of incentives for sector growth."