Hidden Legal Risks of Holding Multiple Nationalities in the UAE

Welcome back to Lawgical, where we untangle the legal knots so that you do not have to. I am Ludmila Yamalova, a US-qualified lawyer based in Dubai. In this episode, we are diving into multiple nationalities in the UAE, a topic that affects a huge number of people living, working, or even just passing through the country. This is one of those issues that is widely misunderstood, often ignored, and usually only discovered when it is already causing real problems.

The UAE is home to one of the most internationally diverse populations in the world. Many residents come from countries where dual or multiple citizenship is common. Some people travel on one passport, reside on another, and have visas linked to a third. And here is the key point:

• The UAE’s system is biometric and digitally integrated.
• You cannot “switch passports” casually without consequences.

The Big Rule: Your Passport Becomes Your Digital Identity

The moment you enter the UAE, the passport you use becomes your anchor identity. It connects to everything, including:

• your entry record
• your visa and residency file
• overstay calculations
• your ability to exit the country
• Emirates ID
• UAE Pass
• bank accounts
• property records
• company registrations
• driving license
• health insurance
• employment records

So the system does not just recognize “you.” It recognizes: you plus that specific passport. And if you try to operate using another passport, the system can treat you like a completely different person.

Tourists: Enter and Exit on the Same Passport

For tourists, the rule is simple:

• Enter with one passport
• Exit with the same passport

If you try to exit on a different passport, the system will show:

• no matching entry record
• meaning, as far as immigration is concerned, you “never entered”

Example: Lost the passport you entered on?

If you entered on your French passport but lost it, you cannot just exit on your Canadian passport. You will typically be blocked until the records are reconciled.

Residents: The Risks Multiply Because Everything is Connected

If you are a UAE resident, this is not just a travel inconvenience. It can create chain-reaction problems across your entire life ecosystem. Common consequences include:

• identity mismatch in government systems
• residency status inconsistencies
• inability to access digital government services
• bank compliance issues
• delays with property transfers
• corporate registry inconsistencies
• immigration complications when exiting or renewing

And yes, updating records is possible, but it requires a formal process.

The “Anchor Passport” Concept

For residents, you need one consistent anchor passport that your residency is tied to. Other passports may exist, but the system needs one main reference point. You cannot informally “switch” passports at the border and expect your residency ecosystem to follow you. You can update passports or add documents, but:

• it must be done through the proper procedures
• updates must connect back to the same anchor identity

Real-Life Scenarios We See Constantly

These are examples drawn from real cases handled in our practice (with country combinations adjusted for privacy).

Case 1: The “Mixed Bag” UAE Life

A long-term resident had two nationalities, and over the years:

• residency was linked to one passport
• property ownership was split across passports
• companies were registered under different passports
• bank accounts were opened under different passports

For years, that did not matter because UAE systems were less centralized and less digital. But once government services became fully digital and linked to UAE Pass, problems started.

What triggered the issue?

He requested a property ownership report from the land department, and:

• the system only showed properties linked to his residency passport
• the other properties (registered under the other nationality) did not appear

The solution

A full “cleanup” across his UAE footprint, including:

• immigration
• property records (and in multiple emirates, not just one)
• corporate registries in multiple economic zones
• bank records (personal + corporate)
• RTA records (vehicles, etc.)

Case 2: “I Got a Better Passport, I Do Not Need the Old One”

A resident had residency and a company registered under Passport A. He later got Passport B, then lost Passport A, and thought: “whatever, Passport B is better.” He entered the UAE on Passport B and then tried to renew residency / update company ownership to Passport B.

What happened?

• The system did not recognize him as being in the UAE under the identity tied to Passport A.
• Authorities required the original Passport A to proceed.
• He had not reported the loss properly.

Outcome

He had to:

• go back to the issuing country
• report the passport loss properly
• obtain replacement documents
• legalize supporting paperwork
• re-enter using the replacement Passport A
• update UAE records first, then switch (if he still wanted to)

And once he understood the process, he realized the “switch” was not worth it.

Case 3: Same Nationality, New Passport Number, Still a Problem

Even if you have one nationality, changing passports can still cause chaos.

A resident lost his passport abroad, got a new one, and returned. Because his residency was tied to the old passport number, the new one created a mismatch. He was allowed entry, but immigration told him:

• he could not leave until the record was updated
• which required foreign police reports, translations, legalizations, consulate documents, and formal updates

This took months to resolve.

Case 4: Divorce + Children With Multiple Passports

This comes up in custody disputes more than people realize.

Children had two passports, but residency was tied to only one. One parent held the “other” passports and tried to travel.

Result

• Children could not exit because the system did not see a matching entry record for that passport identity

Key takeaway for families

• Holding the “other passport” does not automatically enable travel.
• Residency linkage matters more than physical possession of a passport.

Case 5: The Middle Name Problem

Sometimes the issue is not even nationality, it is the way your name was first recorded.

A resident’s original UAE residency record included a middle name. Later his passport did not. When trying to access court portals and other government services:

• the system rejected the request
• because it expected the original name format

Takeaway

If you change passport or nationality, make sure:

• your name spelling matches what the UAE system has recorded
• if it does not, document it and fix it formally where needed

Case 6: Medical Test on One Passport, Visa Application on Another

This is a classic.

A residency application is started using Passport 1. Then the person goes for the medical test using Passport 2. Same nationality, different passport number.

Result

• mismatch
• rejection
• delays
• extra visits to fix the record

And because residency processing can restrict travel, this can seriously disrupt work and business trips.

Case 7: Golden Visa Application on One Passport, Entry on Another

Someone wanted a golden visa anchored to Passport A. Entry permit was issued on Passport A. But they entered the UAE using Passport B as a tourist.

Result

Immigration says:

• the applicant identity tied to Passport A “never entered”
• so the residency process cannot proceed

Solution becomes either:

• exit and re-enter on Passport A; or
• cancel and restart everything anchored to Passport B (which adds delays)

Banking and Compliance: Think Strategically About Which Passport You Use

This is not only immigration. Which passport you use for banking and other services can matter, especially when compliance pressure increases for certain nationalities. We have seen cases where:

• someone opens an account under Nationality A
• later obtains Nationality B and tries to switch
• bank refuses or still treats them as Nationality A in their system

Practical takeaway

Be strategic from the start:

• choose which passport you want attached to major services
• assume it will follow you for years
• do not expect switching later to be clean or easy

Do Not Trust Agents Blindly

Another major issue: data entry errors. We have seen cases where:

• religion was entered incorrectly
• gender was entered incorrectly

Fixing this can be painful, sometimes requiring:

• cancellation of residency
• reapplication from scratch
• long administrative processes because the wrong data is deeply integrated across systems

What you should do

Even if you pay an agent:

• review the application
• confirm all fields are correct
• do not blindly sign

The Core Takeaways

If you remember nothing else, remember this:

• The passport you enter the UAE with becomes your legal + digital identity.
• You must exit on the same passport identity.
• Residency must be anchored to one consistent passport.
• Switching passports informally creates mismatches and blocks movement.
• Updates are possible, but only through formal procedures and documentation.
• Even small differences (passport number, middle name) can break digital services.

Multiple nationalities are not the issue. Inconsistent passport use is.

That is all for this episode of Lawgical. If you found this useful, you can find more on our website: lylawyers.com. We are also on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. And for the full experience, you can watch the video podcast on YouTube.

Until next time: stay informed, stay safe, and keep things Lawgical.