Big Policy Shift: Why Cricketers Didn't Get UAE Citizenship Earlier And What Has Changed Now

Last Updated:April 23, 2026, 12:35 IST

Indian-origin cricketers Khuzaima Tanveer, Ajay Kumar, Akshdeep Nath, Harpreet Bhatia and Adeeb Usmani have been granted UAE citizenship through natuarlisation.

The United Arab Emirates granting citizenship to five Indian-origin cricketers is a signal of how the country is recalibrating both its nationality policy and its global sporting ambitions. For a nation that has historically been cautious about naturalisation, especially in cricket, this is a clear departure from the past.

When Khuzaima Tanveer, Ajay Kumar, Akshdeep Nath, Harpreet Bhatia and Adeeb Usmani were granted UAE citizenship, it marked the first time cricketers have been naturalised in the country.

Until now, UAE cricket functioned on a very different model. The national team was largely made up of expatriates, mostly from India and Pakistan, who became eligible through the ICC’s three-year residency rule, not citizenship.

While residency allowed participation, citizenship creates identity, permanence and long-term investment. With passports in hand, these players are no longer just temporary representatives, but officially Emirati athletes.

What Is Naturalisation?

Naturalisation is the legal process through which a person acquires citizenship of a country they were not born into. Instead of inheriting nationality by birth or descent, an individual becomes a citizen after meeting criteria set by the state, typically including a minimum period of residence, proof of good conduct, and in some cases demonstrated contribution in fields like business, science, or sport.

In recent years, countries such as the United Arab Emirates have expanded this concept beyond traditional residency pathways, using selective naturalisation to attract and retain high-performing talent, including athletes, as part of a broader national strategy.

Other Sports Got It, Cricketers Didn’t

What makes this move significant is that cricket was actually late to the party.

A presidential decree in 2018 opened the door for exceptional foreign athletes to be granted citizenship, but the policy was first implemented in sports like football, rugby and judo.

In football, for instance, the UAE has actively naturalised players over the past few years, bringing in talent from Brazil, Argentina, England and elsewhere to strengthen the national team. The UAE had already set a precedent in other sports, naturalising footballers like Caio Canedo, Fábio de Lima and Sebastián Tagliabúe, and even Olympic-level judokas such as Victor Scvortov.

Cricket, despite its deep expatriate base, remained outside this policy framework, until now.

Why Cricket Was Treated Differently In UAE

Cricket in the UAE has always been expat-driven, with a ready pipeline of players qualifying via residency. That meant there was less urgency to naturalise talent, unlike in football where eligibility rules are stricter and long-term squad building is critical.

Meanwhile, UAE citizenship laws have traditionally been restrictive, shaped by concerns over preserving national identity in a country where expatriates far outnumber citizens. Granting passports, especially in bulk, to cricketers represents a loosening of that long-held caution.

What Has Changed Now?

Push For Human Capital: Sources have said it is a calculated effort by the UAE to insulate its economy from the volatility of global energy markets. As the world pivots towards renewable power, the Emirates is aggressively building a “knowledge-based economy" where human capital, rather than oil, serves as the primary currency for long-term stability.

Professionalisation of UAE cricket: Leagues like ILT20 have raised the sport’s profile and created a more structured domestic ecosystem. Naturalising top performers helps convert that ecosystem into national team strength.

Fast-tracking competitiveness: Citizenship bypasses the waiting period of residency rules, allowing immediate selection. For a country targeting global tournaments, that is a huge advantage.

Talent retention and attraction: Players like Akshdeep Nath, who struggled for consistent opportunities in India, now see the UAE as a viable international pathway.

Soft power play: Sports is increasingly part of the UAE’s global branding, alongside business, tourism and culture. By building competitive teams through selective naturalisation, the country enhances its international visibility.

For years, UAE cricket teams were often described as “expat elevens". This move begins to change that perception. By granting citizenship to cricketers, the UAE is institutionalising its cricket talent pool as players gain long-term allegiance and stability.

The naturalisation of five cricketers is widely seen as a template for future selections, especially if the policy proves successful on the field.

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