Kuwait published six decrees in its Official Gazette on April 26 revoking citizenship from 1,266 people along with those who acquired nationality through dependency, Arab Times reported from the notices. The largest action under Decree No. 60 of 2026 targeted 1,242 individuals and their dependents while separate measures addressed individual cases including one woman and two single-person revocations under Decrees 61, 66 and 67. One decree specifically cited forgery under Article 21 bis (A) of the Kuwaiti Nationality Law.
The Official Gazette notices detailed that Decree No. 65 revoked citizenship from 20 individuals and associated dependents including a former member of the National Assembly whose status followed the withdrawal from his father. Arab Times reported that all six decrees form part of systematic reviews of citizenship files focused on alleged forgery or irregular acquisition. A separate decree addressed a single woman and those linked to her status.
According to a New Lines Magazine assessment published in April 2026 the broader revocation campaign launched in March 2024 had stripped more than 71,059 people of citizenship by mid-April not counting wives and descendants who also lose status. Wikipedia entries on Kuwaiti nationality law updated in 2026 place the official tally at that level while estimating the full impact including dependents could reach 20 percent of the citizen population. Intellinews reporting from the same period cited campaigners suggesting totals as high as 250,000 when family members are included.
KPMG noted in an April 2026 flash alert that Decree-Law No. 52 of 2026 amended the 1959 Nationality Law effective upon publication on April 13 expanding grounds and procedures for revocation of naturalized citizenship subject to committee approval and emiri decree. The amendments updated references to competent authorities and repealed inconsistent prior provisions. Refworld documentation of the original 1959 law confirms revocation authority by decree upon ministerial recommendation for naturalized persons under specified articles.
Arab Times indicated the latest decrees continue a pattern of weekly announcements that paused briefly in early 2026 before resuming after a regional ceasefire. The measures have disproportionately affected women who naturalized upon marriage to Kuwaiti men those granted citizenship for exceptional service and children of Kuwaiti mothers with non-Kuwaiti fathers according to the New Lines Magazine report. Government data compiled by the Citizenship Investigation Committee placed a prior single-day total at 36,000 in April 2026.
The Nationality Law amendments introduced DNA testing provisions and penalties up to seven years imprisonment for deliberate fraud in citizenship applications a KPMG summary of the April 2026 decree stated. Such legal changes have enabled the scale of reviews now reflected in the six decrees. Cumulative actions since September 2024 had already surpassed 50,000 by early 2026 per multiple regional trackers.
