22/02/2026
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22/02/2026
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KUWAIT CITY, Feb 22: Decree-Law No. 9/2026, which amends certain provisions of Law No. 20/2015 concerning National Military Service, was published on Sunday in the official gazette “Kuwait Al-Youm”.
According to the explanatory memorandum, Law No. 20/2015 introduced a modern framework for the national military service system. However, practical application revealed the need to amend some provisions, whether by replacement, addition, or repeal, to address gaps and shortcomings that emerged during implementation. The decree-law consists of five articles, as follows:
Article 1: The texts of Articles 2, Paragraph 1, 3, 6, 10 clause c, 11 clause a, 12 clause a, 17, 26, 27, 33 paragraph 1, 38, 39, 42, and 48 of Law No. 20/2015 are replaced with the following texts:
Article 2: Paragraph 1: Every Kuwaiti who has reached the age of eighteen must present himself within one hundred and eighty days from the date he reaches this age to the competent authority for national military service
Article 3: Appointment to any governmental or non-governmental position, or obtaining a license to practice a liberal profession, requires the submission of a certificate from the National Military Service Authority stating that there is no objection, whether for performing active service, postponing it, being exempted from it, or being granted an exception or exemption from it. Priority in appointments shall be given to those who have completed active military service.
It is prohibited to refuse the appointment of any person due to their failure to perform military service, or because they are currently serving or have been called up for service, provided they have obtained a certificate of no objection. Active and reserve military service is considered actual service in accordance with the provisions of Laws No. 15/1979, No. 6/2010, and the Social Insurance Law.
Article 6: After completing training, conscripts are assigned to army units according to the plan and orders issued by the Chief of the General Staff or their deputy. The Minister of Defense may, by decision, assign some conscripts to military or governmental entities as needed.
Article 10, Clause c: Periods spent by a conscript in detention pursuant to a court ruling or in drug addiction treatment centers. Article 11: The following are exempt from performing national military service:
• Students of military colleges, institutes, and schools.
• Those appointed or volunteering in a military rank in the Army, Police, National Guard, or Kuwait Fire Force, provided their service is not less than five years.
• Firefighters of the Kuwait Petroleum Corporation and its subsidiaries, provided their service is not less than five years.
• Those born before January 1, 2012.
• Categories determined by the Cabinet based on a proposal from the Minister of Defense. (The text continues with the same content, with correct numbering and the removal of duplicate copies of Articles 27 and 38.)
Article 2 included new additions, most notably:
• Extension of active service in the event of a disciplinary penalty or additional service periods, even if the conscript is over thirty-five years of age.
• Repetition of the training course once for those wishing to volunteer if they fail it.
• Inclusion of “only son” among the exemption cases.
• Postponement of service for those proven to be using drugs until the completion of treatment.
• Addition of death as a new case in Article 22.
• Imposition of additional service periods for those who fail to report for reserve duty.
Article 3: Cancellation of Clause a of Article 13 and cancellation of Article 15 of the law.
Article 4: Any procedures that violate the provisions of paragraph d of Article 11 are hereby repealed, and the convictions issued under them shall be expunged from the criminal record.
Article 5: The Ministers, each within their respective jurisdiction, shall implement the provisions of this Decree-Law, which shall come into force from the date of its publication in the official gazette
