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xxxiv THE LEGAL STATUS OF THE ARABIAN GULF STATES

another nationality. Also a person is regarded as a Bahraini by birth
if he is bom in Bahrain, after the said Law, from unknown parents,
and the foundling shall be regarded as born in Bahrain, unless it is
proved to the contrary.
(c) As regards nationality by naturalisation, the Law states that
any foreigner, of full capacity, who applies for a Bahraini
nationality, may acquire it by an order from the Amir, on the
following conditions: (i) He must have established, by lawful
means, normal residence in Bahrain for at least 25 consecutive
years. This period can be reduced to 15 years only in the case of the
Arab applicant. In both cases the period required for naturalisation
shall commence after the date of passing the Nationality Law of
1963. (ii) He must be of good character, (iii) He must have a good
command of Arabic, (iv) He must have an estate registered in his
name in Bahrain.
A naturalised Bahraini does not possess the right to vote or to
nominate himself in an election before completing 10 years after his
naturalisation.
A naturalised Bahraini can lose his nationality in the following
cases: (i) If he voluntarily acquires a foreign nationality and the
Amir orders the withdrawal of his nationality: (ii) If he voluntarily
abandons his Bahraini nationality and the Amir orders its
withdrawal from him. A person’s loss of his Bahraini nationality
under the above provisions extends to his minor children.
2. Territorial Division
The territory of Bahrain is divided into eight municipal districts,
namely, Manama town (the political and commercial capital),
Muharraq island (including Hidd town), Northern, Western,
Central and Southern districts, Rafa and Sitrah. The municipal
administration of these districts was, before mid-1973, entrusted to
a number of Municipal Councils, constituted from half elected and
half nominated members. However, on 30 August 1973, these
Municipal Councils were formally dissolved by a new law, (Law
No. 16 for 1973) which provides for the establishment of a
provisional Central Municipal Authority whose functions would be
to administer municipal affairs in the country. This Central
Authority, which shall perform the powers of the dissolved
Municipal Councils for a transitionary period of two years, is
composed of 28 Members appointed as follows:
(a) 14 Members to be chosen from the citizens of various
municipal districts.
(b) 14 Members to be chosen from Government Officials of
the ministries concerned with municipal affairs.1
1. See Official Gazette No. 1035, 30 August 1973.

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