a significant legal development, Kuwait’s official gazette “Kuwait Today” published the names of 2,182 individuals whose citizenships were revoked under three separate decrees, including those who acquired nationality through dependency, marking one of the largest such actions in recent years.

This move coincided with the issuance of a decree-law amending key provisions of the Kuwaiti Nationality Law originally enacted in 1959, signaling a comprehensive legislative overhaul aimed at redefining the framework governing citizenship.

The updated law seeks to strike a strategic balance between safeguarding Kuwait’s national fabric and addressing humanitarian and social considerations, while firmly reinforcing the state’s sovereign authority over granting, withdrawing, and revoking nationality.

Under the amendments, original Kuwaiti citizens are defined as those who settled in Kuwait before 1920 and maintained continuous residence until December 14, 1959, while individuals born to Kuwaiti fathers are granted citizenship regardless of birthplace.

The law also clarifies that foreign spouses do not automatically obtain Kuwaiti citizenship through marriage, reinforcing stricter eligibility criteria within the naturalization process.

A key provision requires naturalized citizens to renounce their original nationality within three months and provide official proof, otherwise their Kuwaiti citizenship is considered null and void retroactively.

Additionally, the law permits the use of advanced scientific methods such as DNA testing and biometric identification in matters related to citizenship verification, withdrawal, or revocation.

Children of naturalized citizens are granted Kuwaiti nationality by naturalization, with the right to choose their original nationality within one year of reaching legal adulthood, while children born after naturalization are also recognized under the same status.

The amendments also introduce provisions allowing Kuwaiti women who lost their nationality due to marriage to foreign nationals to reclaim it through an official decree after the end of the marriage, subject to residency conditions and formal request.

Article 14 grants authorities the power to revoke citizenship by decree upon recommendation from the Minister of Interior and approval of the Supreme Committee for Nationality, particularly in cases linked to national security or supreme state interests.

Further provisions state that individuals who lose or are stripped of citizenship will forfeit all benefits previously acquired through naturalization, reinforcing the legal consequences of such decisions.

In a notable legal shift, Article 22 classifies all citizenship-related decrees as sovereign acts, effectively shielding them from judicial review and preventing legal challenges before courts.

The law outlines specific grounds for revocation, including obtaining nationality through fraud, forgery, or false statements, as well as convictions in crimes involving honor, trust, or national security, including offenses against religion or the Emir.

It also includes cases where supreme state interests or external security considerations necessitate revocation, as well as situations involving promotion of ideologies that undermine the country’s political, economic, or social systems or affiliation with foreign political entities.

These sweeping reforms mark a decisive shift in Kuwait’s citizenship governance, combining strict legal enforcement with structured flexibility, ultimately reinforcing national identity and long-term societal stability.