Arbitrary deprivation of nationality 19. Article 8 of the United Arab Emirates Constitution states that: “The citizens of the Union shall have a single nationality which shall be prescribed by law. When abroad, they shall enjoy the protection of the Union Government in accordance with accepted international principles. No citizen of the Union may be deprived of his nationality nor may his nationality be withdrawn except in exceptional circumstances which shall be defined by law”.19 20. This article prohibits dual nationality and prohibits arbitrary deprivation of nationality. The law in which ‘exceptional circumstances’ are defined is Chapter two of the United Arab Emirates: Federal Law No. 17 for 1972 Concerning Nationality. This law regulates the loss and deprivation of Emirati nationality and states as follows: “Article (15) Nationality of the country shall be lost from any person enjoying such nationality in the following cases: A. If he engages in military service for any foreign country without permission and refuses to abandon such service when requested to do so. B. If he works for the interest of an enemy country. C. If he has adopted, voluntarily, a nationality of another country. Article (16) Nationality shall be withdrawn from a person who has acquired the nationality by naturalization in the following cases: 1. If he commits or attempts to commit an action which is deemed dangerous for the security or safety of the country. 2. If he has been punished repeatedly for crimes of dishonour. 3. If the data upon which the nationality has been granted was proved to be forged, fraud or containing deception. 4. If he resides outside the country without reason for a period exceeding four years. If nationality is withdrawn from a person, it may be accordingly withdrawn from his wife and under-aged children. Article (17) A national by virtue of law who has acquired a foreign nationality may regain his original nationality if he renounces his acquired nationality. A woman who is national by virtue of law, who has acquired the nationality of her alien husband, may regain her original nationality, if her husband dies, or has deserted or divorced her, on condition that she renounces the nationality of her husband; and her children from this husband may request to have the nationality of the country in case their ordinary residence has been in the country and they express their intention to renounce the nationality of their father. Article (18) Under-aged children who have lost nationality may regain this nationality upon their request when they reach the age of maturity.” 19 Article 8 United Arab Emirates: Constitution, 2 December 1971, available at: http://www.refworld.org/docid/48eca8132.html