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THE PRESENT LEGAL POSITION 125
(b) Persons born abroad before or after the promulgation of this law
whose fathers or paternal grandfathers were born in Bahrain, except persons
whose fathers during the minority of such persons registered at the Political
Agency in Bahrain in accordance with Article 2 or might have so registered
if resident in Bahrain.
By a Supplementary law dated 20 February 1955 the conditions for
naturalisation under the Bahraini nationality law were stated to be
as follows:
(1) The possession of immovable property in Bahrain.
(2) The continuance of residence in Bahrain for a period of ten years.
(3) The applicant should be of a good character.
(4) The applicant should have a fair knowledge of Arabic.
(5) The payment of a fee of 25 rupees by the applicant.
Article 5 of the Bahraini nationality law gives the Ruler the right
to ‘grant Bahraini nationality to any person resident in Bahrain who
applies for it and’ to ‘cancel the grant if such person ceases to reside
in Bahrain’.1
(b) The Qatari Nationality Law No. 2 of 1961,2 as amended by
Law No. 19 of 1963 and Law No. 17 of 1966, comprises 17 Articles.
According to the provisions of this Law and its amendments, there
are three categories of Qatari nationals, namely, Qataris by descent,
by birth and by naturalisation. Qataris by descent, or original Qataris,
are those who resided in Qatar prior to 1930. As regards Qataris by
birth, they are those born to a Qatari father, whether inside or outside
Qatar. In order to acquire nationality by naturalisation, the applicant
must fulfil certain conditions which include the following:
(a) He must have lawfully continued residence in Qatar for a period not
less than 20 years, or 15 years in case of an Arab belonging to an Arab
country, from the date of his application for naturalisation, (b) he must
have a lawful means of living and must be of good conduct, (c) he must
have a fair command of Arabic.
Qatari nationality acquired in accordance with the above conditions can
be withdrawn by decree from a bona fide Qatari national if he (a) acquires a
foreign nationality; or (b) joins the military service of a foreign country
against the wishes of the Qatari Government; or (c) works for the interests
of a foreign country which is in a state of war with Qatar.
1 Collection of Laws, op. cit. And for granting nationality by naturalisation, see
ibid.. Law No. 33/1374, dated 28 Jumada I 1374, p. 58.
2 For this Law and its various amendments, see Al-Jaridah al-Rasmiyah (Govern­
ment of Qatar’s Official Gazette), No. 2, 3 April 1961. And see the same, 3rd Year,
No. 5, 22 July 1963, and 6th Year, No. 5, 19 September 1966. It appears that
Qatari nationality in the past was governed by the Qatari Nationality Regulation
of 12 April 1951 (Sec Government of Qatar, Laws and Regulations). And sec
Parry, op. cit., pp. 370-2. But the nationality law of 1961 completely ignores the
previous Regulation as if it never existed.