KUWAIT CITY, Dec 11: Sheikh Fahad Yousef Saud Al- Sabah, Kuwait’s First Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defense, and Minister of Interior, has announced significant changes to the nationality law, reports Al-Seyassah daily. Among the reforms is the abolition of Article 8, which previously allowed certain individuals to acquire Kuwaiti citizenship. The changes aim to address issues related to what he called ‘purchasing loyalties’ and preserve the integrity of Kuwait’s national identity.

The following are the key highlights of the new reforms Abolition of Article 8 -- Sheikh Fahad Al-Yousef described past naturalizations under Article 8 as rife with ‘purchasing loyalties’. The government intends to revoke citizenship issued under this article while ensuring the affected individuals retain their full rights. However, there will be no path to naturalization for these individuals under the new framework.

15-year residency for foreign wives -- The reform introduces a 15-year residency for non-Kuwaiti wives of Kuwaiti citizens, highlighting the government’s focus on family stability while safeguarding national identity. Focus on forged nationalities -- The minister emphasized that there are numerous cases of forged citizenships, which will be addressed through a transparent and systematic process. However, citizenships issued in the 1970s are excluded from scrutiny. Naturalization delays and processes -- Sheikh Fahad clarified that there is typically a one-year gap between an Amiri decree and the final ministerial decision regarding nationality cases, allowing time for thorough verification and decision-making.