Kuwait enacts sweeping amendments to nationality law under Decree-Law No. 52 of 2026

Kuwait introduced wide-ranging amendments to its nationality law on April 13, issuing Decree-Law No. (52) of 2026 in what officials described as one of the most comprehensive updates to the citizenship framework in decades. The decree, published in the official gazette Kuwait Alyoum, revises key provisions of Amiri Decree No.

15 of 1959, the foundational statute governing citizenship. The reform is presented as an effort to strengthen national identity, tighten controls over the acquisition of citizenship, and ensure that the state exercises its sovereign authority within clear legal boundaries.

The text sets out provisions addressing circumstances under which citizenship may be withdrawn, particularly for naturalized individuals, outlining conditions within the updated legal framework. While the detailed clauses are contained in the published decree, the changes reflect a renewed emphasis on regulatory clarity and enforcement.

The decree takes effect immediately upon its publication in the official gazette. Further specifics are set out in the enacted text as printed in Kuwait Alyoum.