Dubai has announced that foreign residents can sponsor residence permits for 4 categories of family members, confirming the relatives eligible to join permit-holders under the emirate's sponsorship framework.

The announcement defines which family ties qualify. Expatriates living in Dubai who hold residence status may extend sponsorship to 4 specific family member groups rather than an open-ended list of relatives.

Who can be sponsored?

The announcement sets out 4 eligible family categories. Foreigners sponsoring relatives must match their application to one of these groups. Anyone whose relative falls outside the listed categories does not qualify for family sponsorship under this framework.

Dubai authorities published the list so that residents can check eligibility before they begin an application. The official announcement remains the authoritative reference for the qualifying relationships, and applicants should verify their case against it directly.

What changes for applicants?

The clarification affects foreign residents who plan to bring family members to Dubai. It tells them:

• Which 4 family member categories qualify for sponsored residence permits
• That sponsorship is limited to the listed relatives
• That applications outside the eligible categories will not succeed

For households currently planning reunification, the announcement functions as a screening tool: check the relative against the list first, then proceed with the residence permit application only if the relationship qualifies.

Why the list matters

Family sponsorship is a central route through which expatriates build stable household arrangements in Dubai. By fixing the eligible categories at 4, the emirate draws a clear boundary around who can and cannot obtain residence status through a sponsoring relative.

Residents sponsoring family members should anchor every step of their application to the official Dubai announcement, since the listed categories — not informal practice — determine eligibility.

Readers planning a sponsorship application should consult the official Dubai government channels issuing the announcement. This report summarizes the published information; it does not constitute individual legal advice, and specific cases may turn on details set out in the official source.