Stateless to get resolution

There are a growing number of Arab individuals whose families have lived in the UAE for years, often for generations, but do not have nationality, even though in their daily lives they might be treated as if they had. While they think of themselves as UAE nationals, in legal terms they remain in the country on sufferance.

The Ministry of Interior under Lieutenant General Shaikh Saif Bin Zayed Al Nahyan has announced a very welcome initiative in forming a committee to review all these cases across the UAE and to bring a final resolution to these people's uncertainty within two months.

In its work, the committee should be transparent so that the process of adopting nationality for such long term residents, who are part of national society, ceases to be the subject of speculation and uncertainty. The Ministry's committee should also bring about a single standard across the whole of the UAE.