Kuwait has revoked the citizenship of nearly 50,000 people in a crackdown on illegal nationality claims, according to First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Shaikh Fahad Yousef Saud Al Sabah.
The policy targets foreigners who illegally obtained Kuwaiti citizenship. The Supreme Committee for Kuwaiti Nationality, established over a year ago, examines cases to determine who has a legal claim to Kuwaiti nationality.
In several cases, the names of those stripped of citizenship have been made public. The country does not allow dual nationality, meaning those who acquire Kuwaiti citizenship must renounce their original nationality.
A new version of the Kuwaiti nationality document will soon be introduced in a digital format. Kuwaiti citizenship is passed down automatically from a Kuwaiti father to his children, but it also allows for naturalisation, which is overseen by a high committee designated by the Interior Minister.
Many foreigners obtained citizenship decades ago as they helped build the Gulf nation. Citizenship rights have been at the centre of a long-standing debate in Kuwait, including the issue of about 120,000 stateless people known as Bidoon. Despite efforts to address the issue, challenges have persisted due to political tension.
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