A decision to grant UAE nationality to a group of 1,300 people who were born to national women married to expatriates is a move in the right direction and gives hope to many. It is good news for thousands of other women who were not included in the decree issued recently by President Shaikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, according to Khaleej Times.
The recent presidential decree does not cover all children. It covers only the children of national women who are of a certain status, namely - widows, separated or divorced.
Women who are still married to expatriate men were not included in the decree, but it is expected that their cases will be dealt with at a later point in time, according to Sharifa Mousa, a national woman married to a non-national, and one of the pioneering women who have raised this important issue with the authorities.
Mousa expressed her sincere thanks to the President for his move and appreciated the kindness of Shaikha Fatima bint Mubarak, wife of the President and Chairperson of the UAE’s Women Federation.
Mousa also warmly thanked the efforts taken by Dr. Shaikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, and his wife Shaikha Jawaher who took up the issue and responded to the needs of their citizens.
“Solving this issue which involved thousands of families, is no doubt a great move, even if it is happening gradually. The family is the nucleus of the society and its stability and well-being reflects on the development of this society,” Mousa explained while emphasizing that this issue has been one of the most challenging ones in the UAE.
Explaining the problems emerging from treating the children of UAE women from non-nationals as foreigners, Mousa mentioned: “This treatment has not only made these women feel inferior to their fellow citizens, but also had a negative impact on the psychological stability as well as the future of our children.” (Albawaba.com)
