Ali and Cochrane Comparative Migration Studies (2024) 12:16 Page 14 of 17 the country for multiple generations. There are already some benefits for such individuals (e.g., eligibility for educational and scholarship opportunities, amongst others) and this may be a pathway that is expanded in the medium term (meaning, in addition to the categories of individuals eligible via the skills or wealth pathways noted above). The broader pathways to permanence are likely to attract a range of individuals, from highly-skilled professionals and investors seeking investment opportunities to retirees and elites seeking vacation properties. These changes may not make the region more diverse, given its high level of existing diversity, however it has the potential for non-citizens to make the region home. As these individuals feel a stronger connection to where they live (as opposed to temporality common in decades past), new questions of integration, diversity and social cohesion may arise. At the same time, the changes in citizenship and residency laws could have a significant impact on the labor demands in these countries. With many highly skilled professionals now eligible for long-term residency or citizenship, the domestic labor force may be able to increasingly fill roles in fields such as engineering, healthcare, and technology. However, with continued high demands for low- and semi-skilled workers, who are not included in these expanded citizenship and residency programs, this component of the workforce is likely to continue to be expatriates on precarious work contracts tied to employers. The changes in citizenship and residency laws in the UAE, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia will have significant implications for the type of population that will call these countries home in the future. The changes in citizenship and residency laws in the UAE, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia reflect a broader shift in the region towards a more open and diverse society, albeit with differing objectives and thereby forms of belonging. One risk of these changes is that there could be tensions between newly naturalized citizens and long-time residents, or conflicts between different cultural groups. Another is that the inequality gap between citizens and (permanent) residence widens with those expatriates having more temporary forms of residence. In parallel to creating these more inclusive residency and citizenship policies, governments need to proactively be attentive to these risks and facilitate integration and cohesion. Conversely, the possibility of permanence has the possibility to reserve some financial outflows, increase domestic investment and savings, and attract new investment and talent, all of which have the potential to support economic growth. Ultimately, the future implications of changing citizenship and residency laws in the UAE, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia are complex and multifaceted. While they could bring new opportunities and challenges to the region, the full extent of their impact will depend on how they are managed. Appendix 1 Case study comparison of citizen and residency policies Policies Qatar Saudi Arabia UAE Based on parental lineage Citizenship Based on parental lineage Based on parental lineage Automatic citizenship Only for individuals who resided in Qatar before 1930 and can provide proof of such residency For children born to a Children of Emirati men are Saudi father or to a Saudi automatically entitled to mother and a non-Saudi UAE citizenship father, provided the marriage was approved by the Ministry of Interior