Egypt's controversial presidential candidate Hazem Abu Ismail is likely to qualify for the race after a court said his mother has no dual nationality, state media reported late Wednesday.

The State Council Administrative Court ordered Wednesday the Interior Ministry to give Hazem Abu Ismail " a certificate that his mother holds no dual nationality," official MENA news agency reported.

In addition, a state-run TV channel also said Ismail's mother has no U.S. nationality.

On Saturday, the Higher Presidential Election Commission said that some foreign ministry documents indicated Nawal Abdul-Aziz Nour, Abu Ismail's mother, obtained U.S. nationality in 2006.

Under Egyptian law, a presidential candidate, his parents and his wives can only have Egyptian nationality.

The Salafist candidate has been one of the most popular Islamist candidates. A recent poll showed he enjoys a popularity rating of 28 percent, after former Arab League chief Amr Moussa who scored 30 percent in the survey.

Egypt will hold its presidential vote on May 23 and 24.