Nationality and Cases of Statelessness in the Middle East and North Africa Arabia to meet these requirements – they often have no proof of residence, have been unable to access higher education or prove the origins of their family members. Nor is there an opportunity for a person to contest their rejected application for naturalisation in Saudi Arabia. In other words, MENA states’ naturalisation practices can be highly challenging, often unpredictable and are especially problematic in those states with large stateless populations where a pathway to naturalisation is most needed. 3.5.2. Renunciation, loss and deprivation of nationality State practice in respect of renunciation, loss and deprivation of nationality is more difficult to assess, not least because much of the information on these questions is anecdotal at best. In some cases, it would appear that MENA state practice in this area is quite lax. For example, the nationality law of Syria gives the authorities the power to withdraw nationality from a person who has resided abroad (in a nonArab country) for more than three years if he or she has failed to respond to a notification to return.210 In practice, it would appear that this provision is largely obsolete as – even before the current crisis – there 210 - Article 21(g), Syria Nationality Law No. 276, 1969. 158