Decree-Law No. 136 of 2026, published Sunday in the official gazette Kuwait Al-Youm, replaces the minimum service table attached to Decree No. 126 of 2018 while preserving salaries, allowances and bonuses for each grade. The updated table establishes a three-year minimum for ranks that include Court of Appeals advisor, attorney general, deputy prosecutor at the Court of First Instance, first-grade judge, second-grade judge and third-grade judge. A four-year minimum applies to deputy prosecutor C, and the decree took immediate effect upon publication in the gazette. Minister of Justice Nasser Al-Sumait described the measure as among the first executive steps that accompany enforcement of the Judicial Organization Law issued earlier this year.
Al-Sumait said in a statement that the shortened periods cut the timeline for promoting qualified Kuwaiti nationals to senior judicial positions in line with directives to complete full Kuwaitization of the judiciary and Public Prosecution. The minister stressed that all promotions would continue to observe requirements on seniority, eligibility, competence, inspection reports and governing regulations. Current occupants of the affected posts will remain in place until formal appointment decrees are issued, after which those whose terms end will return to regular judicial duties according to their rank and seniority. The explanatory memorandum attached to the decree characterises senior administrative positions as temporary assignments based on institutional needs rather than personal rights.
The changes extend to leadership roles within the Public Prosecution, including the attorney general and several senior prosecution positions, according to the decree text. Al-Sumait noted that the restructuring reinforces orderly rotation and opens opportunities for qualified citizens to manage the judicial system while preserving the core function of adjudicating disputes. This decree builds directly on Decree-Law No. 80 of 2026, which set a maximum five-year window to achieve Kuwaitization across the judiciary and Public Prosecution. Times Kuwait reported that the reform signals a shift from legislative drafting to practical execution aimed at delivering faster and more stable justice.[[1]](https://timeskuwait.com/kuwait-moves-to-accelerate-kuwaitization-of-judiciary-and-public-prosecution/)
Al-Sumait emphasised that the success of these reforms will be judged not by the volume of laws altered but by their impact on the public, including shorter litigation times, greater consistency in rulings and more efficient delivery of rights. He pointed to the comprehensive reform process outlined in directives from His Highness the Amir Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, which include addressing shortcomings, developing national personnel and maintaining judicial stability. The minister added that the next phase will involve close cooperation between the Ministry of Justice and the Supreme Judicial Council to translate the new provisions into improved performance, oversight and accountability within courts and prosecution offices.
Earlier judicial modernisation steps have already produced measurable gains, with the total number of cases before the courts falling more than 20 percent in recent periods according to Ministry of Justice figures. Separate amendments raised the monetary threshold for certain appeals and expanded electronic procedures, contributing to reduced backlogs at multiple court levels. The current decree on service periods forms one element of this ongoing effort to raise efficiency while upholding judicial independence and integrity. Al-Sumait stated that the real work begins now with implementation, with the ultimate goal that members of the public experience justice that is both more efficient and more stable.
