The founder of the popular “Telegram” application, Pavel Durov, who has lived in Dubai since 2017, obtained Emirati citizenship in February 2021, according toForbes“.
Forbes says this is the Russian billionaire’s fourth citizenship, and that it has been informed of this by two “sources close” to the businessman and Telegram.
Thus, Durov has 4 nationalities, namely, “Russia, Saint Kitts and Nevis, which is located in the Caribbean, France, and the United Arab Emirates,” according to Forbes.
The source close to Durov said, “Durov obtained Emirati citizenship in February 2021. For travel and business trips, Durov uses the Emirati and French passports.”
“The Saint Kitts and Nevis passport was relevant only in the first years after Durov’s emigration from Russia,” he explained.
He added: “Pavel has not traveled to Russia and has not had any assets in this country for eight years, Telegram has no offices or employees in Russia, the number of users from Russia does not exceed 8%, and Durov’s Russian passport has already expired.”
In February 2021, Durov met with the Crown Prince of Dubai, Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. to go global.”
Durov also expressed his appreciation for the “vision of a dynamic technological society” formed by the ruler of Dubai, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, which has contributed to the development of innovation and entrepreneurship “beyond” the city.
“Some of the most interesting and most successful digital companies in the world, such as Telegram, have decided to operate institutions from the emirate’s territory,” the Dubai Crown Prince said at the time.
Durov opened Telegram’s headquarters in Dubai in 2017, and explained that the decision to move to the UAE was due to tax exemptions and “the unwillingness to work for the government 180 days a year”, referring to the refusal to pay taxes at high rates in other countries.