DESK REVIEW ON POPULATIONS AT RISK OF STATELESSNESS
Article 4 of Saudi Arabia’s Citizenship system provides that the following persons are Saudi citizens:
1.
Whoever acquired an Ottoman Nationality in year 1332 Hijra – 1914 A.D. among
original Saudi Arabian land inhabitants.
2. Ottoman Citizens born in Saudi Arabian land or residents inside the Kingdom from
1332 Hijra – 1914 AD until 22/3/1345 Hijra and did not acquire a foreign citizenship
prior to this date.
3.
Non-Ottoman Citizens who resided in the Saudi Arabian land from 1332 Hijra – 1914
A.D. until 22/3/1345 Hijra and did not acquire a foreign citizenship prior to this date.
4.
Individuals born inside or outside the Kingdom from a Saudi father, or Saudi mother
and unknown father, or born inside the Kingdom from unknown parents (foundling)
are considered Saudis.
5. Individuals born inside the Kingdom from a Non-Saudi father and Saudi mother may
be granted Saudi Citizenship by the decision of The Minister of Interior so long as
they: (1) have a permanent Resident Permit (Iqama) when they reach the legal age; (2)
they have good behaviour and have never been sentenced to a criminal judgment or
imprisonment for more than six months; (3) they are fluent in Arabic; and (4) they apply
one year after reaching the legal age.
Naturalization may also be provided under the following conditions:
1.
The applicant is above the legal age
2. The applicant is of sound mind
3.
The applicant has had a permanent resident permit (Iqama) for a minimum of five
years continuously
4.
The applicant has good behaviour and has never been sentenced to a criminal
judgment or imprisonment for more than six months
5. The applicant has a legal income
The foreign wife of a Saudi may acquire Saudi Citizenship if she abandons her original
nationality and acquires Saudi Citizenship.
B.4.c. Children of Philippine Descent
Based on the initial interview with Social Welfare Attachés, it was noted that there are cases
of Filipino parents being deported without their children. The current Social Welfare Attaché
was aware of three such cases and noted that two of the three children had birth certificates.
The third had been with a guardian for more than a year, but it was reported that the Embassy
had lost contact with the guardian and cannot locate them.
UNHCR / April 2021
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