Kuwait’s Emir Sheikh Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah issued Decree-Law No. 79 of 2026 on Sunday amending provisions of the 1959 nationality law. The official gazette Kuwait Al-Youm published the full text and its explanatory memorandum the next day. KUNA reported that the changes aim to affirm national identity for original Kuwaitis and address irregularities stemming from errors or intentional misrepresentations in citizenship records.
The decree adds a new paragraph to Article 7 of the nationality law that prevents those who acquired citizenship through naturalization from voting, running for office or being appointed to any parliamentary body. This update aligns directly with Article 82 of the Kuwaiti Constitution, which requires National Assembly members to be citizens by birth under the law. Earlier versions of the statute had permitted naturalized citizens to vote after a 30-year period while still barring them from seeking election, according to a review of Kuwaiti nationality legislation published by the European University Institute.
Revocation rules have also broadened under the decree to encompass not only individuals found to have forged entries in nationality files but also their children or descendants who knew of the deception and failed to alert competent authorities. The Higher Committee for Kuwaiti Nationality Investigation or a final judicial ruling can establish such cases. The provision extends measures introduced in Decree-Law No. 52 of 2026, which expanded grounds for citizenship withdrawal and required naturalized persons to renounce other nationalities within three months.
In a parallel update, the decree shifts issuance of citizenship certificates from paper to electronic format to support the state’s digital transformation initiative. The Minister of Interior will define technical controls for producing, storing and verifying these digital documents as well as conditions under which they may be suspended or revoked. Electronic certificates will carry identical legal force to their paper predecessors and replace them for all purposes in legislation governing services or benefits, the decree stated.
The decree-law takes effect upon its publication in the official gazette, tasking the prime minister and individual ministers with implementation in their respective areas. A BTI Transformation Index country report from 2026 placed the number of citizenship revocations at roughly 10,000 between 2011 and September 2024, with a further surge of 35,000 cases recorded in the final months of that year. The latest amendments follow the dissolution of parliament two years earlier and form part of sustained reviews of nationality grants.
Any provisions in prior laws that conflict with the new decree are repealed under its terms. The explanatory memorandum underscores the goal of rectifying past irregularities while reinforcing the distinction between citizenship by birth and by naturalization. Kuwait Times reported that the cabinet had approved the draft text in the days leading up to the emir’s issuance of the final decree-law.
