Deprivation of Nationality in the Gulf: Stories from Kuwait and Bahrain

• Nationality revocation is being used as a political tool in Gulf states, leaving thousands stateless and deprived of essential rights.
• Kuwait has revoked citizenship for over 42,000 individuals since 2024, while Bahrain has historically utilized mass trials and denaturalization to suppress political dissent.
• Discriminatory nationality laws that deny women the right to pass citizenship to their children are a primary driver of statelessness in the region.
• Stateless individuals face severe marginalization, including exclusion from education, employment, healthcare, and freedom of movement.

The Crisis in Kuwait

• 2025 amendments to the Nationality Law simplified the process for revoking citizenship, leading to an unprecedented escalation in revocations.
• The Supreme Committee for Verifying Kuwaiti Nationality has targeted naturalized citizens, dual nationals, and those accused of fraudulent acquisition.
• Women who gained citizenship through marriage under the now-repealed Article 8 have been disproportionately affected.
• The long-standing Bidoon population remains excluded from basic services, a reality impacting families for generations.

Political Use of Denaturalization in Bahrain

• Between 2012 and 2020, over 1,000 people were stripped of their nationality, often as retaliation for political activities.
• Despite a 2019 royal pardon for 551 people, approximately 435 cases remain unresolved due to ongoing political and security considerations.
• Historically, the government has managed nationality files to preserve demographic and sectarian balances, particularly regarding residents of Iranian or Iraqi origin.

Gender Discrimination and Statelessness

• Most Gulf states do not grant women equal rights to confer nationality to their children, forcing many to navigate precarious legal landscapes regarding marriage and residency.
• Thomas McGee of the MENA Statelessness Network emphasizes that denying women the right to pass on nationality is a clear violation of international law.
• Children born to national mothers and foreign fathers, particularly where the father is stateless, are often left without legal status.

Impact and Recommendations

• Stateless individuals endure constant barriers to professional and academic advancement, often living in fear of deportation despite deep local ties.
• Experts urge Gulf states to adopt transparent legal processes, reform discriminatory nationality laws, and fulfill international human rights obligations to foster national stability.