Kuwait to replace all foreign judges with citizens by 2030 in sweeping workforce nationalization
Kuwait's Minister of Justice, Counsellor Nasser Al-Sumait, has confirmed that the country's judiciary will be fully 'Kuwaitized' by 2030, meaning all judicial positions, currently sometimes held by foreign workers will be occupied by qualified Kuwaiti nationals.
This initiative forms a core pillar of sweeping reforms to strengthen local talent, empower national professionals, and modernize the legal sector.
TL;DR:
Kuwait's judiciary aims to be staffed entirely by citizens by 2030 as part of 'Kuwaitization.'
The transition is underway across judicial departments, with Legislative reforms also in motion to boost independence and efficiency.
Private and public sectors, especially oil and technical fields, are undergoing similar
national workforce integration
, including strict recruitment and job protection rules.
Details of the judicial
Kuwaitization
drive
Minister Al-Sumait states that procedures are already advancing within all judicial departments to replace expatriate judges and staff with skilled Kuwaiti professionals as per a report by People Matters. 'The matter has been decided, and we are committed to achieving 100% Kuwaitization by 2030,' he declared, underlining the determination behind the plan.
The Ministry of Justice is coordinating closely to ensure that all appointments and promotions prioritize quality, training, and readiness among Kuwaiti candidates.
Coupled with the ambitious staffing goal, the Judicial Independence Law is under legislative review intended to secure the judiciary's autonomy, improve administrative frameworks, and align national structures with contemporary legal best practices.
The approach emphasizes not just nationalization, but also efficiency, capability, and global alignment.
Kuwaitization across sectors
The Judiciary initiative follows notable progress in other vital sectors. Kuwait's oil industry, already Kuwaitized in key engineering and technical roles serves as a model. Local workforce integration in oil is supported by the Manpower Contractors Kuwaitization Initiative (begun in 2002), offering fair wages, benefits, and stable employment for nationals.
As of 2024, the Kuwait Petroleum Corporation (KPC) and subsidiaries have reportedly reached 100% national staffing in top positions, with ongoing efforts to remove barriers for Kuwaitis, ensure job continuity, and phase out reliance on foreign staff.
Tightened recruitment for technical & professional roles
The Public Authority for Manpower has also introduced new, stricter requirements for expatriates seeking technical posts, such as medicine, engineering, law, education, accounting, and finance.
All candidates must now pass an online professional proficiency test and undergo thorough academic and work experience verification, typically three to five years via official bodies and Kuwaiti embassies abroad.
For existing foreign workers and those switching sectors, changes in job titles or academic records are tightly regulated to ensure only appropriately qualified staff remain.
Any roles involving security screening require explicit clearance from the Authority before obtaining Ministry of Interior approval, reinforcing comprehensive compliance and oversight.
Kuwait's sweeping Kuwaitization campaign in the judiciary and beyond seeks to empower Kuwaiti nationals, modernize the labour landscape, and drive sustainable long-term development. Legislative changes, stricter recruitment, and a focus on homegrown talent reflect a national strategy for competitive, capable, and independent institutions across the board.
FAQ
1. What does Kuwaitization mean in the judiciary context?
It means that by 2030, all judicial positions currently held by expatriates will be replaced by qualified Kuwaiti nationals.
2. Is the judiciary Kuwaitization process already underway?
Yes, the Ministry of Justice is actively implementing the transition across judicial departments.
3. What are some legislative reforms accompanying the Kuwaitization plan?
The Judicial Independence Law is under review to strengthen the judiciary's autonomy, efficiency, and alignment with modern legal frameworks.
4. Are Kuwaitization efforts limited to the judiciary?
No, Kuwaitization is also advancing strongly in sectors like oil, engineering, medicine, and finance, with stricter recruitment and qualification rules for expatriates.
5. What new requirements must expatriates meet for technical jobs in Kuwait?
Candidates must pass online proficiency tests and undergo rigorous verification of academic credentials and work experience through official authorities.
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