Kuwait unravels massive citizenship fraud scheme involving over 1,000 forgers and dual nationals

In a sweeping and unprecedented crackdown, the Kuwaiti authorities have uncovered the largest citizenship forgery operation in the nation’s history, involving over 1,060 persons, including entire families who falsely obtained Kuwaiti nationality under Article 1.

The campaign, led by the Supreme Committee for the Investigation of Kuwaiti Nationality in collaboration with the Ministry of Interior’s Nationality Investigation Department, has exposed complex fraud networks stretching back decades, reports Al-Rai daily.

One case resurfaced in 2024 after a critical tipoff was received via the Nationality Investigation Department’s hotline, prompting authorities to reopen a dormant file from 2008.

That file centered around a man born in 1956, whose identity had long been under suspicion. He was found to have dual Gulf citizenship, which he had concealed while assuming a completely different identity in Kuwait.

Despite his 2006 confession and a pledge to renounce his Gulf nationality, his file was left open — and soon began to expand suspiciously. He registered 44 children and 122 dependents under his name. In 2017, he added a “Yemeni son” to his profile, further alerting authorities.

By 2025, investigators summoned 13 men claiming to be his brothers. DNA analysis confirmed they were genuine siblings from one father, but the main suspect was biologically unrelated.

This revelation triggered the revocation of his Kuwaiti citizenship and that of 122 others linked to him through fraudulent means.

The authorities also confirmed that in 2008, Gulf officials formally warned Kuwait that the suspect and his family held Gulf citizenship and requested information on how he had obtained the Kuwaiti nationality.

Despite Kuwait responding that the man had used a different identity and had fraudulently secured nationality, no legal action was taken at the time, and the file was shelved — until now.

Among the most staggering revelations was a single file tied to a deceased person born in 1940, under whose name 440 individuals had illegally acquired Kuwaiti nationality.

These were revoked in one sweep during the committee’s most recent meeting. Combined with earlier cases, the total number of forgers in this file alone has now reached 1,060.

Sources described the fraudulent network as a “cluster bomb”—each forged identity splintered into multiple other false claims across generations.

Under the direction of First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Fahad Al-Yousef, the Supreme Nationality Committee met on Thursday to issue revocations and forfeitures of nationality across multiple cases.

These included — loss of citizenship due to dual nationality; withdrawal due to forgery and false statements; forfeiture in the country’s best interest.

Around 700 people lost their citizenships in this round of decisions, sourced from just four major files, with 16 cases involving individuals who held dual Gulf or Arab nationalities.

In a separate but related case, two brothers from a Gulf country — biologically related but listed under different names—were investigated in 2021 after one obtained Kuwaiti citizenship fraudulently. He was convicted, and a 2024 ruling resulted in the revocation of his citizenship.

The crackdown spans cases between 2000 and 2025, with DNA testing, foreign government correspondence, and record audits forming the basis of investigations. Authorities emphasized that no revocation is issued without full verification, including cross-border inquiries.

Officials affirmed that Kuwaiti nationality is a “red line” and cannot be manipulated for personal gain. The campaign aligns with political leadership directives to preserve national identity and ensure public benefits are not extended to forgers.

Kuwaiti sources reaffirmed that all investigations are ongoing and that additional revocations are expected, especially in linked files. “The circulated information is rejected and will not be taken into account,” officials stressed, noting that only verified documents and DNA results inform committee decisions.

The following are the key statistics – 1,060 total revocations linked to a single file; 122 revocations from one individual’s fraudulent lineage; 700+ revocations in latest committee meeting from 4 major files; 440 individuals stripped of citizenship in one record tied to a deceased man; 16 dual nationality cases (Gulf/Arab) addressed; 2000–2025: full audit period under review.