KUWAIT CITY, July 20: A total of 38,505 foreign women married to Kuwaitis obtained Kuwaiti citizenship according to Article Eight of the Nationality Law from 1993 until the beginning of 2020, reports Al-Rai daily quoting Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Anas Al-Saleh.

Article Eight of the law states that “Kuwaiti nationality may be granted by decree upon the recommendation of the minister of interior to a foreign woman who marries a Kuwaiti national provided that she declares her wish to acquire Kuwaiti nationality and that the marriage shall have lasted for at least 15 years from the date of her declaration. “All or part of the above requirement as to time may be waived upon the recommendation of the minister of interior.

In the event of such woman’s marriage being terminated by divorce or the death of her husband, and if a child had been or is born to her by her husband, Kuwaiti nationality may be granted to her by decree upon the recommendation of the minister of interior, provided that she maintains her lawful and normal residence in Kuwait until the end of such 15-year period.”

The above-mentioned figure is part of the minister’s response to the queries of MP Ahmad Al-Fadl. The daily obtained a copy of the response stating that 1,426 foreign women married to Kuwaitis were naturalized every year or 118 per month in the last 27 years. In addition, the foreign women who obtained Kuwaiti citizenship as per Article Eight of the law from 1993 to 1999 reached 10,403; 16,305 from 2000 to 2010; and 11,797 from 2011 until the beginning of 2020.