Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06ABUDHABI4154
2006-11-02 12:20:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Abu Dhabi
Cable title:  

UAEG SEEKS TO END UNCERTAIN STATUS OF STATELESS

Tags:  PREL PHUM PTER AE 
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VZCZCXRO7440
PP RUEHDE RUEHDIR
DE RUEHAD #4154/01 3061220
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 021220Z NOV 06
FM AMEMBASSY ABU DHABI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7541
INFO RUEHZM/GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL COLLECTIVE
RUEHDE/AMCONSUL DUBAI 6568
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ABU DHABI 004154 

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STATE FOR DRL, NEA/RA, NEA/ARPI

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/02/2016
TAGS: PREL PHUM PTER AE
SUBJECT: UAEG SEEKS TO END UNCERTAIN STATUS OF STATELESS
RESIDENTS

ABU DHABI 00004154 001.2 OF 002


Classified By: AMBASSADOR MICHELE SISON, REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D).

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ABU DHABI 004154

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SIPDIS

STATE FOR DRL, NEA/RA, NEA/ARPI

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/02/2016
TAGS: PREL PHUM PTER AE
SUBJECT: UAEG SEEKS TO END UNCERTAIN STATUS OF STATELESS
RESIDENTS

ABU DHABI 00004154 001.2 OF 002


Classified By: AMBASSADOR MICHELE SISON, REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D).


1. (C) Summary: President Sheikh Khalifa issued directives
October 25 for federal ministries to seek a final end to the
problem of the "bidoun" (stateless persons) in the UAE. The
bidoun of the UAE generally fit two groups: Arabs (from Saudi
Arabia, Yemen, Oman),and non-Arabs (primarily from Iran and
the Indian sub-continent). Human rights activists were
surprised by the announcement, since no member of Emirate
Human Rights Association (EHRA, the only recognized human
rights organization in the UAE) had been contacted for
comment, although it was widely known that the plight of the
stateless was EHRA's central issue. UAE security concerns
likely trump humanitarian goals, as the President's directive
seeks a final conclusion of the issue (tightly coupled to
identification and who the UAEG can trust with citizenship)
rather than a benefits-oriented resolution. End summary.


2. (U) On October 25, the official Emirates News Agency (WAM)
reported that President Sheikh Khalifa had issued directives
for federal ministries to seek a comprehensive and permanent
solution to the problem of the country's "bidoun," or
stateless people. A committee, headed by Brigadier Abdul
Aziz Maktoum Al-Shareefi, Director of the Protective Security
Department in the Ministery of Interior, is reportedly
finalizing a list of those eligible to be granted citizenship
after proving that they meet certain criteria. The criteria
are ostensibly simple and include proof of residency in the
UAE prior to December 2, 1971 (date of UAE declaration of
federation),no documentation of prior or current citizenship
in another country, and no record of a felony conviction.
Children of qualifying bidoun, even if born after December 2,
1971, gain derivative status if they meet the other criteria.
(Note: "Citizenship" in the UAE can range from being issued
a passport but not having full access to government services,
to a passport and citizen ID number entitling the holder to
the full-range of federal programs, services, and social

security benefits. It is not clear what level of citizenship
is being proposed for the bidoun, although basic services
like school registration and medical care associated with UAE
identity papers should be resolved at a minimum. End note.)

Background
--------------

3. (SBU) The bidoun of the UAE generally fit two groups:
Arabs (from Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Oman),and non-Arabs
(primarily from Iran and the Indian sub-continent). A large
number of stateless people are second and third generation
bidoun, whose parents came to the Emirates when the borders
were relatively open prior to independence. UAE citizenship
is only automatically transferred by a UAE citizen father (or
by Presidential fiat) and therefore descendents of a
stateless man, even if married to a UAE national woman, may
remain stateless in perpetuity. The English daily "Gulf
News" reports that the exact number of bidoun is unknown but
quotes unofficial estimates placing the total between 75,000
and 100,000; MoI contacts put the number of people likely to
meet the government's definition of "stateless" between
10,000 and 30,000. EHRA offered PolOff an estimate of 30,000
when defining the bidoun problem in July.


4. (U) While the bidoun are not subject to deportation, they
face discrimination in the labor market, have limited access
to both education and medical care (which require officially
issued identity documents),and are restricted in their
movements since they have no passort. In 2005, a directive
from the Ministry of ducation prohibited both public and
private schols from accepting any student without "proper
documentation" which includes a passport and valid visa or
residency permit. (Note: The UAE is not party to the U.N.
Convention on Status of Stateless Persons. End note.)

Human Rights Groups Not Involved
--------------

5. (C) In July, Abdual Ghaffar Hussain, EHRA Chairman, told
PolOff that resolving the situation of the bidoun was a
significant focus of the newly established human rights NGO.
Dr. Mohamed Ghobash, EHRA Secretary, told PolOff that the
announcement by Sheikh Khalifa came as a complete surprise
since the EHRA had not been involved in any way. Ghobash
expressed disappointment that the EHRA had not been
consulted, since many in the organization had hoped that any
committee formed to address this significant social concern
would have an EHRA representative, thus demonstrating the
UAEG's commitment towards addressing human rights issues
openly.


6. (SBU) In March, 2006, Dr. Mohamed Al-Kamali, Director
General of the Institute of Training and Judicial Studies,

ABU DHABI 00004154 002.2 OF 002


Ministry of Justice, stated that UAE law already addressed
the issue of the bidoun, and had clear rules and conditions
governing the process of granting UAE citizenship under the
Naturalization Act, even without identification documents.
If indeed UAE law already allows for a method to address the
issue, Khalifa's decree may be a call for something other
than a technical solution -- possibly more of an attempt to
put an end to ambiguity by defining clearly who does and does
not qualify. English daily "Khaleej Times" had reported MoI
officials saying in March that "many (bidoun) claim that they
are stateless people to get UAE citizenship by circumventing
rules," and that, "most stateless persons are actually
infiltrators that have conveniently lost their documentation."


7. (C) Comment: The announcement does not appear to call for
a "solution" since one technically already exists, but for a
"once and for all" conclusion to end the discussion. The
fact that the joint committee is "finalizing a list of the
stateless people who are entitled to UAE citizenship," and
that the head of the committee is not a member of
Naturalization and Residency Department but represents MoI's
Protective Security Department, suggests the UAEG is not only
struggling to identify who qualifies under naturalization
criteria, but is also screening lists of stateless persons
for security risks to identify "admissible" bidoun. This
follows reports that the lists of "electors" for the upcoming
Federal National Council elections were vetted by State
Security, and returned to the rulers of each emirate for
alternative nominations, demonstrating ongoing caution on the
part of the UAEG regarding who it empowers. Abu Dhabi Crown
Prince Mohammed bin Zayed highlighted the need for such
"screening" in an October 30 conversation with Under
Secretary Karen Hughes (septel). End comment.

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