# Kuwait nationality law and citizenship reforms

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/kuwait-nationality-law-and-citizenship-reforms
> Updated: 2026-08-23T19:45:03.000Z. Sources: 4. Developments: 2.

Kuwait has implemented significant changes to its nationality laws, involving the revocation of citizenship and the restriction of political rights for naturalized citizens.

In mid-August 2026, the government revoked or declared the loss of citizenship for 30 individuals following a review of nationality cases. This included six individuals through decrees issued at Al-Seif Palace and an additional 24 individuals whose citizenship was declared lost under Article 11 of the Kuwaiti Nationality Law. These decisions affected members of several families and were approved by the First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior.

Following these revocations, Emir Mechaal al-Ahmad Al-Sabah approved a decree stripping naturalized citizens of their rights to vote, run for office, or be appointed to parliamentary bodies. This amendment removes a previous provision that allowed naturalized citizens to exercise voting rights after holding nationality for 30 years. 

The reforms aim to restrict citizenship to those with direct blood ties to Kuwait. The measures include the abolition of naturalization through marriage for those who obtained it since 1987 and targeting dual nationals and those accused of obtaining citizenship through fraud. The decree also introduces provisions for the electronic issuance of citizenship certificates and allows for the revocation of nationality if individuals are found to have intentionally added unregistered persons to their nationality files. These actions are part of a broader campaign that has seen tens of thousands of people lose their nationality since 2024, following the dissolution of Parliament and the suspension of certain constitutional provisions in late 2023 and early 2024.

## Claims

- Emir Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah issued a decree-law amending the Kuwaiti Nationality Law. (corroborated by 4 sources)
- Naturalized citizens are prohibited from voting, running for election, or being appointed to any parliamentary body. (corroborated by 4 sources)
- Since 2024, Kuwaiti authorities have conducted a campaign revoking the citizenship of tens of thousands of people. (corroborated by 4 sources)
- The new measures have abolished naturalization through marriage, which was previously available to women. (corroborated by 4 sources)
- Under previous laws, naturalized citizens could vote after holding nationality for 30 years. (corroborated by 3 sources)
- The decree allows for the revocation of citizenship if an individual is proven to have intentionally added unregistered persons to their nationality file. (single source)
- The decree permits the electronic issuance of Kuwaiti citizenship certificates with full legal weight. (single source)

## Timeline

### 2026-08-23: Kuwait Emir strips naturalized citizens of voting and election rights

Kuwait's Emir has issued a decree stripping naturalized citizens of their rights to vote, run for office, or hold parliamentary appointments, as part of a broader citizenship reform campaign.

4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/kuwait-emir-strips-naturalized-citizens-of-voting-rights

### 2026-08-14: Kuwait revokes citizenship of 30 individuals

Kuwait has revoked the citizenship of 30 individuals following a government review of nationality cases and decisions by the Supreme Committee for Kuwaiti Citizenship Investigation.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/kuwait-revokes-citizenship-of-30-individuals

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Cite as: Kuwait nationality law and citizenship reforms. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/kuwait-nationality-law-and-citizenship-reforms