Dubai’s General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA) announced a residence‑permit service for families of Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) citizens whose spouses or children hold foreign passports.

The scheme covers families of citizens from all six GCC member states – Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain and Oman.

Eligible wives and children can apply for Dubai residence permits regardless of the nationality of their passport, provided the sponsoring relative is a GCC citizen.

Applications are processed through the GDRFA, which requires applicants to submit the documentation, fees and verification details outlined in the official service information.

The service is described as “without conditions relating to the foreign passport’s country of origin,” but applicants remain subject to standard identity checks and administrative procedures.

Kenyan and other African nationals may qualify only if they are wives or children of a GCC citizen and hold a foreign passport; merely holding an African passport does not confer eligibility.

Those without a qualifying GCC family link must explore alternative UAE residence options such as employment‑based permits or the 10‑year Golden Visa.

Prospective applicants are advised to review the official GDRFA guidelines and confirm the sponsoring relative’s GCC citizenship before initiating the process.