regardless of the child’s place of birth. Children born abroad to Mauritanian mothers and foreign fathers can obtain Mauritanian nationality only by opting for it during the year before reaching majority. By contrast, children born to Mauritanian fathers, whether in Mauritania or abroad, automatically acquire nationality at birth, with no such conditions or limitations. The nationality law of Oman permits Omani mothers to confer nationality on their children only under specific conditions. A child born in Oman or abroad to an Omani mother is eligible for Omani nationality if the father has not established filiation or if the father was an Omani national who is now stateless. Additionally, a child born to an Omani mother and a foreign father may apply for naturalization only if the mother is widowed, divorced for five years, or has been abandoned by her foreign husband for at least ten years. The child must also have resided in Oman continuously for a minimum of five years in case the mother is widowed or got divorced, and ten years in case the father abandoned the family, along with meeting other legal requirements. The nationality law of Qatar does not permit Qatari mothers to confer nationality on their children, without exception, even if this would result in statelessness. Qatari law does give the children of Qatari mothers priority for naturalization, but only after living in Qatar for more than 25 years. The practical application of this provision is unclear. In contrast, Qatari fathers automatically confer nationality on their children born in Qatar or abroad. Under the nationality law of Saudi Arabia, a Saudi mother can confer her nationality on her child born either in or outside the country if the father is unknown or stateless. In addition, children born in Saudi Arabia to a Saudi mother and a foreign father may apply for naturalization within one year of reaching the age of majority, provided they meet several conditions: they must be permanent residents in the country, have no convictions or imprisonment exceeding six months, and be fluent in Arabic. In contrast, children of Saudi fathers automatically acquire Saudi nationality at birth, regardless of the child’s birthplace. In Syria, the nationality law allows Syrian mothers to confer nationality on their children only if the child is born in Syria and the father does not establish legal filiation with the child (i.e. because he is unknown, or paternity has not been established). By contrast, Syrian fathers confer nationality on their children regardless of the birthplace of the child. The nationality law of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) only allows Emirati mothers to confer nationality on their children in limited circumstances. Children born in the UAE or abroad to an Emirati mother who is married to a foreigner may apply for Emirati nationality when they reach the age of six. A child born in the UAE or abroad to an Emirati mother and a father whose nationality is unknown, is stateless, or who has not established filiation acquires Emirati nationality at birth. In contrast, all children born to an Emirati father, whether in the UAE or abroad, acquire Emirati nationality at birth. Under the nationality law of Yemen, mothers who acquired nationality through naturalization U N H C R > B A C K G R O U N D N O T E O N G E N D E R E Q U A L I T Y, N AT I O N A L I T Y L A W S A N D S TAT E L E S S N E S S 2 0 2 6 15