Which of the following countries became the first in the world to grant official citizenship status to a humanoid robot?

Introduction / Context:
Advances in robotics and artificial intelligence have led to unusual legal and ethical developments that sometimes appear in current affairs questions. One widely reported event was a country granting official citizenship to a humanoid robot, sparking debates about rights, responsibilities and the symbolic status of artificial beings. Remembering which country did this first helps you answer questions at the intersection of technology, law and society.

Given Data / Assumptions:
- The question asks which country became the first to grant citizenship to a robot.
- Options include Saudi Arabia, New Zealand, China, Japan and the United Arab Emirates.
- We assume the reference is to a highly publicised announcement at a technology or investment conference.

Concept / Approach:
The concept tested is factual recall of a unique world first. The humanoid robot involved was named Sophia, created by a robotics company. Saudi Arabia announced that it was granting Sophia citizenship during a technology related event, making headlines worldwide. By connecting the name Sophia with Saudi Arabia, you can easily identify the correct answer and eliminate other technologically advanced countries that did not make this exact move.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall news reports about a robot named Sophia receiving citizenship from a Middle Eastern country. Step 2: Remember that this announcement took place at the Future Investment Initiative event in Riyadh. Step 3: Associate Riyadh with Saudi Arabia, confirming that Saudi Arabia was the country involved. Step 4: Compare this with Japan and China, which are leaders in robotics but did not formally grant citizenship to a robot. Step 5: Note that New Zealand and the United Arab Emirates have digital and smart initiatives but were not connected to this specific citizenship announcement.

Verification / Alternative check:
To verify, think of how unusual this news item was and how often exam notes highlight it as a world first. The wording usually states that Saudi Arabia became the first country to grant citizenship to a robot and that the robot was Sophia. Since this phrase appears frequently in current affairs compilations, checking your memory for that exact wording should reinforce your answer choice.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
New Zealand is known for progressive laws but has not granted citizenship to a robot in this context.
China is a major technology power but there is no widely reported case of it granting official citizenship to a humanoid robot.
Japan builds many advanced robots but has not made a similar symbolic citizenship move that matches this question.
The United Arab Emirates has smart city and artificial intelligence initiatives but did not grant citizenship to Sophia or any other robot in the way described here.

Common Pitfalls:
Many candidates are tempted to choose Japan or China because they strongly associate those countries with robots and artificial intelligence. However, the question is not asking which country is most advanced in robotics but which one granted formal citizenship as a symbolic gesture. To avoid this confusion, focus on remembering specific world first events by matching the unusual action, such as robot citizenship, with the exact country that appeared in the headline, which is Saudi Arabia.

Final Answer:
The first country in the world to grant official citizenship to a robot was Saudi Arabia.