為了擺脫嚴(yán)重的“石油依賴癥”，沙特決定向外籍人士敞開大門，開啟了永久居住權(quán)申請計劃。當(dāng)然，天下沒有免費的午餐，申請者需要支付高額的費用。不過，沙特政府貼心地設(shè)置了兩種價位，申請者可根據(jù)自身經(jīng)濟(jì)實力做出選擇。

Saudi Arabia has opened applications for a permanent residency program designed to attract foreign investment to the kingdom, but it will cost a hefty 800,000 riyals.

沙特阿拉伯開放了旨在吸引外國投資的永久居住權(quán)申請計劃，但申請者需支付高達(dá)80萬里亞爾（約合146.8萬元人民幣）的費用。

hefty ['heft?]：adj.異常大的

There’s also a cheaper option, with a one-year renewable residency costing 100,000 riyals.

還有一種費用更低的選擇，一年的可續(xù)簽居住權(quán)需花費10萬里亞爾。

The so-called premium residencies will allow foreigners to buy property and do business without a Saudi sponsor, switch jobs and exit the kingdom easily and sponsor visas for family members, according to the website for registrations.

據(jù)登記申請網(wǎng)站稱，這種所謂的高級居住權(quán)將允許外國人在購買房產(chǎn)，無需沙特人擔(dān)保就可以做生意，換工作，輕松離開沙特，并為家庭成員提供簽證擔(dān)保。

As well as paying the high fee, applicants must be at least 21 years old, prove financial solvency and have a clean criminal record and bill of health.

除了支付高額費用外，申請人還必須年滿21歲，有償付能力，無犯罪記錄并有健康證明。

The program approved in May is the latest sign of how the quest for non-oil revenue is prompting Gulf nations to rethink the role of foreigners in their societies.

今年5月批準(zhǔn)的這項計劃表明，尋求非石油收入正促使海灣國家重新思考外國人在其社會中所扮演的角色。

It’s a landmark move in a region where many overseas workers are subject to some of the world’s most restrictive residency rules.

這一舉措具有里程碑意義，因為在該地區(qū)，許多海外員工都要遵守一些全球最嚴(yán)格的居留規(guī)定。

Currently over 10 million expats work and live in Saudi Arabia under a system that requires them to be sponsored by a Saudi employer and be issued an exit and re-entry visa whenever they want to leave the country.

目前，在沙特阿拉伯工作和生活的外國人超過1000萬，該國的簽證制度要求他們必須得到沙特雇主的擔(dān)保，并在他們想要離境時獲得出境和再入境簽證。

The United Arab Emirates approved a plan to allow wealthy foreigners to apply for a 10-year stay, while Qatar passed a law that’ll grant some permanent residencies.

此前，阿拉伯聯(lián)合酋長國批準(zhǔn)了一項允許富有的外國人申請居留10年的計劃，而卡塔爾則通過了一項法律，允許一部分人獲得永久居留權(quán)。

The idea for a long-term Saudi residency program was first floated in 2016 by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, as a part of his plan to reduce the economy’s reliance on oil and boost foreign direct investment.

沙特王儲穆罕默德?本?薩勒曼于2016年首次提出了長期居留計劃的想法，這是其減少經(jīng)濟(jì)對石油的依賴、促進(jìn)外國直接投資計劃的一部分。

At the time, he estimated the program would generate about $10 billion in annual revenue by 2020.

據(jù)他當(dāng)時估計，到2020年，該計劃帶來的年收入將達(dá)到大約100億美元（約合688億元人民幣）。

While Saudi Arabia is seeking to encourage the affluent to stay, monthly fees imposed on foreign workers and their families, along with sluggish economic growth, have prompted hundreds of thousands of expatriates to leave.

盡管沙特阿拉伯正試圖鼓勵富人留下來，但由于該國對外籍員工及其家人每月征收一定費用，且經(jīng)濟(jì)增長緩慢，已有數(shù)十萬外籍人士離開。

affluent ['?fl??nt]：n.富人

expatriate [?ks'p?tr??t]：n.移居國外者

The new permanent residency system could prove controversial among Saudis at a time when unemployment is at 12.5%, nationalism is surging and xenophobia is not uncommon.

在失業(yè)率高達(dá)12.5%、民族主義情緒高漲、仇外情緒普遍存在之際，新的永久居住權(quán)制度可能會在沙特人當(dāng)中引發(fā)爭議。

xenophobia [zen?'f??b??]：n.仇外；對外國人的畏懼和憎恨

英文來源：彭博社、路透社

翻譯&編輯：yaning