Qatari Cabinet okays Permanent Residency draft law a day after Shura council passes it

The Qatari Cabinet on Wednesday took necessary measures to issue the draft law on permanent residency (PR) card, after reviewing recommendations of the Advisory Council on the topic, reported Gulf Times.

On Monday, the Advisory Council had given its approval to the draft law and submitted its recommendations to the Cabinet.

The move for Permanent Residency, which was widely hailed by expatriates in the country, was soon put forth to the country’s Shura Council and they had started discussions on it several months back.

Under the provisions of the draft law, a committee shall be established within the Ministry of Interior to consider requests of granting permanent residency identity cards (IDs) to a limited number of non-Qataris, in accordance with the provisions of the draft law.

The committee will submit its recommendations to HE the Minister of Interior to issue the appropriate decision on the mentioned requests.

Among the benefits permanent residency ID holders may obtain include treatment and education in government institutions and other privileges, in accordance with the terms and conditions set by the Cabinet.

HE the Prime Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani chaired the Cabinet’s regular meeting held at its premises at the Emiri Diwan.

According to the draft reviewed by the Advisory Council, a decision by HE the Minister of Interior may grant PR IDs to the children of a Qatari woman married to a non-Qatari, as well as those who have offered valuable services to the country and people with special capacities that the country needs.

In January this year, the council had discussed the draft law at its weekly session and referred it to the Internal and External Affairs Committee for further study and a report.