Amended military service law says mandatory conscription begins at age 18, those born on or before January 1, 2012

• New amendments boost efficiency of military service system, broader exemptions clarified, and deployment expanded across four security sectors
• Protection of conscripts’ rights, retain full salaries, allowances, and benefits, with service counted toward total years of employment.

The Kuwaiti Army announced on Monday amendments to Law No. 20 of 2015 concerning National Military Service, following the issuance of Decree-Law No. 9 of 2026 amending certain provisions of the law.

In a press statement, the Army said that this comes as part of the National Military Service Authority’s commitment to developing the legislative framework related to National Military Service to keep pace with practical realities.

It added that “the new decree addresses observations that emerged during implementation, as the Authority deemed it necessary to review and amend some provisions of the existing law to achieve the desired effectiveness.”

The Army explained that some provisions of the National Military Service Law were amended due to legislative and procedural shortcomings revealed by practical application.

These shortcomings included delays in processing some transactions and the inability to address practical situations not explicitly covered by the original text.

The Army stated that the aim of the amendment is to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of the law’s implementation, enhance the accuracy and speed of procedures, and ensure a balance between the public interest and the rights and obligations of those required to perform military service.

This will guarantee the implementation of National Military Service provisions in a more comprehensive and clear manner, and this amendment aims to address loopholes in the law.

He explained that the most prominent amendments included applying national military service to every Kuwaiti male who has reached the age of eighteen, starting with those born on or before January 1, 2012.

All those born before that date are exempt, and all procedures taken in violation of this will be nullified. The army noted that the amendments stipulate that conscripted employees retain their salaries, allowances, bonuses, and rewards during their national military service, and that national military service will be counted towards their years of actual service.

He pointed out that the amendments also stipulate exempting only sons from military service, granting Kuwait Oil Company firefighters the same exemptions as the General Fire Force, and extending the registration period for every Kuwaiti who has reached the age of eighteen to 180 days instead of 60.

He added that the amendments also allow the National Military Service Authority to assign conscripts to the four sectors: the Kuwaiti Army, the Ministry of Interior, the National Guard, and the Kuwait Fire Force.

–KUNA