CChapter 3: Comparative analysis of nationality laws period of residence (from 10 years to 5), if there is an “urgent reason” for obtaining nationality. It is unclear whether this clause would be interpreted such that a stateless person will be offered this facilitated path to naturalisation, especially given that the nationality law generally does not make special provision for the prevention or resolution of statelessness. The unfortunate conclusion is therefore that the stateless long-term residents of any MENA country will face the same conditions – and obstacles – as any other person who wishes to acquire nationality by naturalisation. As such, they may be forced to wait many years before becoming eligible to apply and, even then, the other requirements may prove insurmountable. For instance, demonstrating sufficient income could be problematic, given the difficulties in accessing education and employment as a stateless person.141 Furthermore, especially given the absence of statelessness determination procedures in any MENA state, it is also questionable whether a stateless person would be deemed identified as such and/or be able to secure lawful residence, as required to actually qualify for naturalisation. Overall, the prospects for naturalisation as a means to resolve a person’s statelessness in the MENA region are rather poor. 141 - See, for instance, UNHCR, The situation of stateless persons in the Middle East and North Africa, October 2010. 105