In the citizenship regulations of the region, creating conditions of loss or revocation, there
are no provisions that protect against revocation, on the ground that such would lead to
statelessness. The other alarming tendency in the MENA region is the introduction of strict and,
in certain aspects, obviously problematic conditions of naturalization. In other countries, the
eligibility period may take a minimum of 20 years and above before an individual can apply.
Others limit naturalization to the individuals with the qualified qualifications in the country, do
not allow non-Muslims to naturalize or have a maximum quota of naturalization per year. These
factors, including income and health needs, add to the problem of naturalization of many persons.
As a matter of fact, in states where the stateless numbers are high, naturalization is practically
unavailable and being stateless remains a serious issue. Most of the MENA nations have also
restricted entry into the territories. The citizenship of some classes of individuals, in the light of
the complications of the formation of a Palestinian state, tends to cause the denial of citizenship
of people of Palestinian origin in their host nation.
Table 3. Reasons for Loss of Citizenshi
Service
to a
Foreign
State
Art 23
(3)
Art 10
(a)
Allegiance
to an
Enemy
State
Country
Residence
Abroad
Algeria
–
Bahrain
–
Egypt
Art 15 (3)
Art 16
(2,4,6)
–
Iraq
–
–
–
Jordan
–
Art 18
(1, 2a)
Art 18 (2b)
Kuwait
–
Art 13
(4) and
14 (1)
Art 13 (5)
and 14
(2,3)
Lebanon
–
–
Art 8 (2)
Libya
Art 13 (2)
–
–
Mauritania
–
Art 33
(3)
–
Morocco
–
Oman
–
Qatar
Art 12 (4)
Art 11
(1)
Saudi
Arabia
–
Art 13
(b,d)
Art 19
(5)
Art 13
(3)
–
Art 10 (b)
Crimes
Against
the
State
Art 22
(1)
Art 10
(c)
Art 15
(2) and
16 (3,5)
Art 15
Art 18
(2c) and
19 (1)
Serious
NonPolitical
Crimes
Art 22
(2)
Fraud
Extraordinary
Grounds
–
–
Art 8 (2)
Art 8
(1)
–
Art 15
(1)
Art 15
Zionist (Art 16
(7))
–
Art 15
–
–
Art 19
(2)
–
Art 13
(2)
Art 13
(1)
–
Art 13
(1)
–
–
–
Art 12
Art 33
(1)
Art 33
(2)
Art 22
Art 22
(1a,1b)
Art 13
(5)
Art 22
(1d)
Art 14
–
Art 13
(1)
Art 11 (2)
Art 11
(3,4)
Art 12
(2)
Art 12
(1)
Art 13 (c)
Art 21
(b)
Art 21
(a)
Art 22
Art 22 (3)
Art 13 (4)
–
ISSN 2776-1266 (print), 2776-1266 (online)
Copyright © 2026, Journal of Public Representative and Society Provision
Under the license CC BY-SA 4.0
Leaving Islam
(Art 4 (5)) and
Dismissal for
Dishonesty (Art
13 (3))
–
Justified Decision
(Art 14)
Physical or
Mental Disability
(Art 14)
Terrorism (Art
22 (1c))
Atheism (Art 13
(2))
For Public
Interest (Art
11,12) and
Dismissal for
Dishonesty (Art
12 (3))
Working at an
international
organization
despite being
ordered to resign
(Art 13(d))
| 192