S TAT E L E S S B Y D E C R E E D e c r e e L a w 5 2 /2 0 2 6 : K u w a i t ʼs n e w , res tr ic tiv e citiz en sh ip fra m ew o rk The 5 April, 2026, Decree Law 52/2026, (titled) Regarding the amendment of cer tain provisions of Amiri Decree No. 15 of 1959 concerning the Kuwaiti Nationality Law, distilled the par tial amendments set out in 2024. 59 It enables stakeholders and interested par ties to assess the new, restrictive citizenship framework enacted by the Amir, Mishal al-Ahmad al-Sabah and the GoK. A summary selection of the principal, thematic changes are: Theme / Area Pre-2024/6 laws Post-2024/6 laws Anyone resident in Kuwait since 1920, with continued residency until 1959 Citizenship by descent through a Kuwaiti male An Arab resident in Kuwait since 1945; a non-Arab resident before 1930 Citizenship by descent through a Kuwaiti female Ineligible for citizenship Unchanged Foundlings Eligible for citizenship Unchanged Dual nationality of a naturalised person Not permitted but no restriction detailed Not permitted while formal renunciation within three months required, with provision of proof to Ministry of Interior, or risk forfeit of Kuwaiti nationality (Art 11 bis) Non-Kuwaiti wife of a Kuwaiti male Eligible for citizenship Ineligible for Kuwaiti citizenship Children of a naturalised Kuwaiti male and Kuwaiti mother Eligible for citizenship Unchanged A non-Kuwaiti wife’s retention of citizenship following the end of marriage to a Kuwaiti male (same sex marriages are not and never have been permitted) Eligible Ineligible and will lose citizenship Loss or forfeit of citizenship, generally, of Kuwaiti and non-Kuwaiti Acquisition of another nationality, service of state interests (eg, military) of another state Broadly the same and in case of females, where the wife acquires non-Kuwaiti citizenship of the non-Kuwaiti husband. Re-acquisition of citizenship by a nonKuwaiti woman after loss of nationality Eligible under specific restrictions Ineligible TA B L E C O N T I N U E S → OVERVIEW 1126