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Kuwait nationality law and citizenship reforms

Updated 1 time since CLSTR started tracking revisions of this situation.

What changed

2026-08-24 07:53 UTC → 2026-08-24 10:27 UTC · added removed

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.

Versions

  1. 2026-08-24 10:27 UTC Kuwait nationality law and citizenship reforms
  2. 2026-08-24 07:53 UTC Kuwait nationality law and citizenship reforms

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