Abu Dhabi: Lieutenant General Shaikh Saif Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Interior Minister, has issued instructions to recommend the granting of UAE citizenship to a number of employees of the Interior Ministry, a senior official said on Monday.
"Twenty-five employees of the Interior Ministry, who have no citizenship status, applied to acquire it or obtain legal residency in the UAE after obtaining a Comoros Islands passport," said Major General Nasser Al Nuaimi, director general of the Shaikh Saif's office.
Al Nuaimi said instructions were issued to the consultative committee of the Interior Ministry to prepare a memo recommending their naturalisation and waive any fines involved.
The positive attitude of the Interior Ministry's staff, who had no citizenship status, and their attempt to solve their problem could only be met with praise, he said.
The employees' move followed a successful attempt by Hassan Abdul Rahman, a government employee.
Abdul Rahman had obtained a Comoros Islands passport since it is obligatory for people who apply for UAE citizenship to show a previous nationality.
While cautioning of unauthorised agencies who cheat people with fake passports, Major General Al Nuaimi highlighted the importance of cooperation by people with a similar status to amend their legal status.
Praise
Praising Abdul Rahman's move, which he said, showed his respect for law as well as his good intention to abide by the law, Shaikh Saif stressed in a statement the leadership's keen follow-up of human developments on local, regional and international levels.
Applicants for UAE citizenship must have lived continuously in the country and have a citizenship that may be exchanged for UAE citizenship. They should not have a criminal record.
