Kuwait has revoked the citizenship of more than 37,000 people, primarily women, who had acquired nationality through marriage. Among them is Lama, a grandmother originally from Jordan, who discovered she was no longer a Kuwaiti citizen after her credit card was declined and her bank account frozen. Having lived in Kuwait for over 20 years as a law-abiding citizen, the sudden loss of her nationality left her devastated.
The unprecedented mass revocation of citizenship, mainly targeting women naturalized through marriage since 1987, reflects a new nationality policy under Kuwait’s emir, Sheikh Meshal al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, who came to power in December 2023. The emir, who dissolved parliament and suspended parts of the constitution months after assuming office, has pledged to “deliver Kuwait to its original people clean and free from impurities.” This policy shift appears aimed at restricting nationality to those with blood ties to Kuwait, effectively reshaping the country’s identity and potentially reducing the electorate amid ongoing political crises.
Kuwait already struggles with a large stateless population known as the Bidoon, estimated at around 100,000 people. This latest campaign abolishes naturalization by marriage — a route only available to women — and targets individuals with dual nationality or those accused of fraudulent citizenship claims. High-profile naturalized citizens, including entertainers, have also been stripped of nationality.
Human rights advocates, including Amnesty International, warn the move violates basic human rights, leaving many “stateless overnight” and in legal limbo. Families face disruptions in pensions, bank access, and social services, despite government assurances that social benefits will continue.
Analysts argue this crackdown centers on defining Kuwaiti national identity and tightening political control. The exclusion of naturalized women, many of whom are mothers and grandmothers to Kuwait-born children, signals a harsh shift toward an exclusionary nationalism focused on lineage. The policy risks deepening social divides and undermining the rights of thousands who have long called Kuwait home.
