Kuwait has enacted sweeping new rules requiring mandatory genetic and biometric data collection for all individuals undergoing review in citizenship cases. The directive, issued through Ministerial Decree No. 678/2025, applies to both Kuwaiti citizens and expatriates seeking naturalization, significantly expanding the state’s use of forensic science in matters of lineage determination and identity verification.
The decree outlines a legal framework authorizing the use of DNA analysis and biometric identification in decisions related to the granting, withdrawal, revocation, or loss of Kuwaiti nationality. Individuals under review must now submit to genetic fingerprinting and biometric testing at Ministry of Interior-designated centers, where biological samples—such as blood, saliva, or hair—are collected for analysis. Results are stored in a secure national database intended to prevent identity fraud and impersonation.
These measures follow a broader biometric data collection initiative launched in 2024. That campaign required all adult expatriates to register biometric data, including mandatory fingerprinting. However, compliance proved challenging: over 47,000 Kuwaitis missed the biometric registration deadline, resulting in temporary restrictions on services such as banking. Since August 2024, the government has revoked the citizenship of more than 35,000 individuals—though human rights monitors estimate the number had risen to over 42,000 by March 2025. Many of those affected were reportedly naturalized citizens or members of the stateless Bidoon community.
The government states that these actions are designed to strengthen national security and protect against fraudulent identity claims. According to the decree, the measure aims to provide a legal and procedural framework for using scientific evidence in cases involving the granting, revoking, withdrawal or loss of Kuwaiti nationality. Final decisions in these cases rest with the Supreme Committee for Nationality, not solely with Ministry of Interior officials or database results.
The decree includes provisions allowing individuals to request DNA or biometric retesting, subject to approval by the Ministry. It also specifies that analysts performing the tests must be free from conflicts of interest and possess clean criminal records. Chain-of-custody protocols are detailed in the legislation to ensure documentation integrity and procedural fairness.
Foreign nationals who fail to comply with the new requirements may face severe penalties. These include travel bans, an inability to renew residency permits or change employers, and suspension of driver’s license renewals. The law’s reach has also been retroactively extended through December 2024 amendments to Kuwait’s Nationality Law, which expanded revocation criteria—particularly for cases deemed threats to state security.
While the Ministry of Interior has emphasized that biometric and genetic records are sealed, with database access restricted to authorized personnel, the scale and retroactive nature of the campaign have raised international concerns. Critics argue that the measures, despite including data protection and data security safeguards, risk undermining privacy rights and due process. Human rights advocates warn that Kuwait’s approach could disproportionately affect vulnerable populations and increase statelessness in the region.
Sources: Zawya, Arab Times
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April 21, 2025 – by the ID Tech Editorial Team
