The son-in-law of the President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev – Otabek Umarov received citizenship of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in April 2023, when he held the position of deputy head of the presidential security service. At that same period, Uzbekistan's legislation prohibited servicemen of this service from holding citizenship of another country.
HOW OTABEK UMAROV OBTAINED A UAE PASSPORT
According to an investigation by OCCRP and Radio Ozodlik, journalists obtained copies of Otabek Umarov's passport and residence permit and independently confirmed the authenticity of the documents. They indicate that UAE citizenship was granted to him in April 2023, when he continued to work as deputy head of the security service of the President of Uzbekistan.
To obtain UAE citizenship, a foreigner requires nomination by the ruling court or a high-ranking representative of the state, as well as taking an oath of allegiance to the UAE.
WHAT UZBEKISTAN'S LEGISLATION STIPULATED
Service in the presidential guard is classified as active military service. According to Article 29 of Uzbekistan's Law on Military Service, acquiring citizenship of another state is listed among the grounds for dismissal from active service.
At the same time, Umarov continued to hold the position for about 18 months after receiving the UAE passport. In November 2024, he was dismissed from his position in the presidential guard in connection with a transfer to another job. After that, he became first vice-president of the National Olympic Committee (NOC) of Uzbekistan.
According to the data cited in the investigation, the mere possession of a foreign passport does not in itself entail automatic criminal punishment or a fine. Uzbekistan's legislation allows for the termination of the country's citizenship in the event of voluntarily obtaining a foreign passport, and the state does not recognise dual citizenship.
HOW UMAROV CAME TO HAVE FLATS IN DUBAI
A separate body of leaks concerns Umarov's real estate in Dubai. Land records and maintenance payment documents show that in 2025 he became the registered owner of 13 flats previously owned by his younger brother Oybek Umarov.
Eleven flats are located in the Jadeel complex in the Madinat Jumeirah Living district, and two more — in the Fountain Views towers in the centre. The combined value of the properties is about $7 million.
The documents do not make it possible to establish whether Otabek Umarov acquired the real estate independently or received it from his brother. Neither Otabek Umarov nor Oybek Umarov responded to journalists' requests.
WHAT IS KNOWN ABOUT HIS WEALTH AND INCOME
Uzbek officials are not obliged to publicly disclose income declarations. Therefore, the real estate in Dubai is named as the first major luxury property that journalists managed to confirm specifically in the name of Otabek Umarov.
At the same time, the investigation notes that Umarov had previously publicly displayed expensive watches, including a Richard Mille model worth up to $1.9 million. Public commercial registries contained no data on private companies belonging to him during his tenure as deputy head of the presidential guard.
WHAT THE PARTIES TO THE INVESTIGATION RESPONDED
Journalists sent requests to Otabek Umarov, the Administration of the President of Uzbekistan, his brother, the presidential security service, the Government of the UAE, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) of the UAE and the UAE Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security. At the time of publication, no responses had been received from them.
