Kuwait puts under microscope citizenships awarded under exceptional circumstances

The Council of Ministers has approved the minutes of the Higher Committee for Investigating Kuwaiti Nationality, which includes decisions to revoke or withdraw Kuwaiti citizenship from individuals who had acquired it through exceptional clauses, notably those categorized under “noble deeds” or “grand duties.”

Informed sources told Al-Rai that the committee is continuing its comprehensive review and investigation of files granted citizenship under such special classifications. The process is being conducted in reverse chronological order — starting from the most recent files and working backward.

According to the sources, the committee’s latest session resulted in the withdrawal of 1,083 nationalities, pushing the investigation timeline back to cover cases granted as far back as 2005.

The review not only targets individuals who directly received Kuwaiti nationality for “noble deed,” such as extraordinary contributions or services, but also those who acquired citizenship through dependency, such as family members of the primary recipients.

This intensified scrutiny comes as part of Kuwait’s broader efforts to ensure the integrity of its nationality records and prevent the misuse of exceptional citizenship grants. The initiative is seen as a move to reinforce national identity policies and uphold legal standards regarding citizenship eligibility.

The investigation continues under the mandate of the Higher Committee, signaling that additional cases could surface as older files are examined.