Qatar to allow some foreigners permanent residency

Qatar plans to allow some expatriates to obtain permanent residency, state news agency QNA reported.

A draft law approved at a cabinet meeting will allow permanent residence to the children of Qatari women married to non-Qataris, as well as expatriates who provide outstanding services to Qatar, the Wednesday evening report said.

“According to the provisions of the bill, the minister of interior may grant a permanent residency ID to a non-Qatari if they meet the conditions specified in the law,” the cabinet statement carried by QNA said.

Gulf Arab countries have a high number of expatriate workers but do not allow naturalisation of foreigners except in rare cases and under strict conditions.

Read: Arab journalists working in Qatar risk losing their citizenship

Qatar has a population of 2.7 million including some 300,000 citizens.

Holders of the new permanent residency can access free state education and healthcare and have the right to own property and run some businesses without needing a Qatari partner, QNA said.

A work-sponsorship system widely enforced in the Gulf and known in Qatar as “kafala” requires foreign workers to get their employer’s consent to change jobs or leave the country.

QNA said a committee would be established at the interior ministry to review requests of granting permanent residency ID in line with the provisions of the law.