In a landmark move, Kuwaiti authorities have revoked the nationality of 207 individuals after a meticulous, year-long investigation uncovered one of the largest cases of citizenship fraud in Kuwait’s history. The elaborate network involved falsifying family files and forging identities, largely connected to individuals of Syrian origin.

The investigation began in July 2024, following an anonymous tip-off implicating a man named Qassem, a naturalized Kuwaiti believed to be a Syrian national who fraudulently acquired citizenship. Qassem’s sudden flight from the country after being flagged raised immediate red flags, prompting a deeper probe.

His sister, married to a Syrian contractor and residing in Kuwait, was summoned for interrogation. She confirmed his identity and citizenship status but denied knowledge of his current location.

Investigators shifted focus to Qassem’s children, one of whom serves in a Kuwaiti security force. DNA testing involving his sister and her husband confirmed the children’s biological ties to a Syrian lineage, definitively proving the fraudulent claim to Kuwaiti nationality.

Further examination of Qassem’s official family registry revealed 22 listed “siblings.” Six of those—Qassem included—were complete fabrications. The other 16 were verified as genuine citizens, shocked to discover that fake names had been inserted into their official file without their knowledge or consent.

To uncover the identities of the remaining fraudulent individuals, Kuwaiti authorities partnered with Syrian agencies and the Central Agency for Illegal Residents (Bedoon). The trail led to five others—also of Syrian or stateless background—who had similarly vanished overseas to escape investigation.

By May 2025, two more individuals were positively identified. Their Kuwaiti citizenships, along with those of their spouses and children, were immediately revoked. For the remaining three, extensive DNA testing was conducted among their children and known relatives in Kuwait, linking them back to Syrian families and confirming the widespread nature of the fraud.

The Supreme Nationality Investigation Committee concluded its review by fully dismantling all the forged files. This included revocations from six separate fraudulent family registries:

• Jassim’s file: 40 people (revoked July 2025)
• Mohammed’s file: 31 people (revoked July 2025)
• Ahmed’s file: 32 people (revoked July 2025)
• Qassem’s file: 16 people (revoked earlier)
• Awad’s file: 23 people (revoked earlier)
• Saleh’s file: 65 people (revoked earlier)

The Kuwaiti government reaffirmed its zero-tolerance policy toward identity forgery and manipulation of national records. Officials have pledged to pursue all past and future cases, regardless of the offender's current occupation, status, or location.

Authorities emphasized that Kuwaiti nationality is a matter of national security, and any individual found to have obtained it through deception will be legally prosecuted and stripped of status.

Conclusion

This sweeping crackdown reflects Kuwait's unwavering commitment to protecting the integrity of its citizenship system. With further investigations expected, this case has set a new precedent in cross-border cooperation, use of DNA verification, and forensic auditing of family files.

The operation not only serves as a deterrent to future fraudsters but also reinforces the state’s resolve to maintain trust in the national registry system.