Kuwait has issued a series of legal decrees amending its nationality law and revoking the citizenship of over 2,000 individuals, marking a significant shift in the country’s approach to citizenship regulation. On Monday, the official gazette published three decrees revoking Kuwaiti citizenship from a total of 2,182 people, including those who acquired nationality through dependency. The revocations were issued under Decrees No. 22, 23, and 24 of 2026, affecting two, 1,104, and 1,076 individuals respectively.

In parallel, Decree-Law No. 52 of 2026 was published, introducing comprehensive amendments to the Amiri Decree No. 15 of 1959, which governs Kuwaiti nationality. The overhaul is intended to modernize and clarify the legal framework around the granting, loss, withdrawal, and forfeiture of citizenship, incorporating safeguards to maintain the country’s national identity and social fabric while respecting humanitarian and legal considerations.

The amendment defines original Kuwaitis as those settled in the country before 1920 who maintained residence until 1959, and nationality by origin is extended to anyone born to a Kuwaiti father regardless of place of birth. The law clarifies that foreign women married to Kuwaiti men no longer acquire citizenship automatically, and minor children of naturalized citizens will be granted nationality with the right to choose at adulthood. Children born after their father’s naturalization are also categorized as naturalized citizens.

Significant provisions address children born to Kuwaiti mothers in specific circumstances—such as when the father is deceased, absent, or unknown—allowing them temporary recognition as Kuwaitis until reaching majority. Regarding loss of citizenship, Kuwaiti women reportedly lose nationality only if they obtain their husband’s citizenship, while naturalized women may have nationality withdrawn after divorce or widowhood under specified conditions.

The decree establishes clear grounds for revoking nationality, which include voluntary acquisition of foreign citizenship, fraud, criminal convictions, actions judged harmful to national security, or unauthorized military service in foreign forces. New citizens are required to renounce other nationalities within three months of naturalization, failing which their Kuwaiti citizenship may be invalidated retroactively. The amendments also allow for the reinstatement of nationality for Kuwaiti women who previously lost it through marriage, subject to residency and application requirements.

To enhance verification, the law permits the use of DNA testing and biometric data in nationality investigations and introduces stricter penalties for submitting false information, including prison terms of up to seven years and fines. It emphasizes that decisions regarding nationality remain sovereign acts outside judicial review and grants the public prosecution authority over related offenses.

Transitional provisions categorize individuals who obtained nationality by dependency or naturalization under the new classification of naturalized citizens, requiring them to regularize their status under the amended law. The amendments repeal conflicting provisions of the original 1959 decree and successive laws, reflecting a move toward a more consistent and robust nationality framework.

The government’s explanatory statement underscores that nationality is a fundamental sovereign prerogative and a key element of national identity. The reforms aim to balance protecting the country’s social cohesion and sovereignty with ensuring clarity and fairness in citizenship matters, as Kuwait adapts its laws to contemporary realities and constitutional principles.