Qatar to grant permanent residency to expats

Qatar passed a landmark law to grant permanent residency cards to some foreigners.

As per the law, people eligible for the card will include children of Qatari women married to foreigners, those who have special talents "needed by the state,, and others who have extended notable services to the country.

The executive regulations will be issued soon.

Cardholders will be able to avail benefits of state-run educational and health-care services. They will also be given priority, after locals, for military and civilian public jobs, QNA reported.

They also would be allowed to own property and to run certain commercial activities without a local partner.

Country's ruler, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, had instructed officials to expedite measures to lure investments and to reduce the economy's reliance on energy after Saudi Arabia and three allies severed their diplomatic and transport links with the country in June.

With this step, Qatar is giving expats more stake in the country.

The idea of giving expats permanent residency has been long thought after as Gulf countries want to bolster non-oil revenue after the plunge in crude prices.

Last year, Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman told Bloomberg in an interview that the government was weighing a green card-type program for foreign workers. The U.A.E. said in February it was working on a new visa system designed to attract top foreign talents in fields such as medicine, science and research to the country.