Law reforms – drastic cut in spouse abuse, drug peddling

One of the most significant reforms was the Family Protection from Domestic Violence Law, which came into force in mid-March. The law represents a strategic step toward enhancing family stability in line with Kuwait’s constitutional commitments. The law’s impact has already been reflected in the justice system. Statistics show that domestic violence cases registered with the Public Prosecution declined by 33 percent during the first three months of implementation. Minister of Justice Nasser Al-Sumait stated that the number of cases dropped by 158, from 486 cases during the same period the previous year to 328 cases. This, he said, demonstrates the new law’s effectiveness in regulating and resolving family disputes. The legal philosophy behind the law seeks to balance stronger family protection with preventing abuse of legal procedures. It allows for reconciliation and settlement in disputes where the social nature of the case permits, while maintaining strict protection for the most serious offenses.

At the same time, the law prohibits waivers or settlements in particularly serious crimes, including sexual assault, violence committed by children against their parents and abuse of children or individuals lacking legal capacity. Legislative reforms have also strengthened efforts to protect society from drug-related crimes. Decree No. 159 of 2025 on combating narcotics and psychotropic substances, which took effect in mid-December, has led to unprecedented declines in drug trafficking cases. First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Fahad Yousef Saud Al-Sabah stated that the new drug law has reduced drug smuggling into Kuwait by 80 percent while increasing street prices by 200-300 percent across all drug categories.

He also said security authorities have successfully intercepted approximately 95 percent of drug shipments attempting to enter the country. The latest official statistics showed that drug importation cases fell by approximately 86 percent during the first half of this year compared with the same period in 2025, declining from 102 cases to just 15, and drug trafficking cases decreased by nearly 49 percent, falling from 354 cases to 184. The law has also had a humanitarian impact. Reports of addicts increased by 14.9 percent, reflecting greater willingness to seek confidential treatment under the expanded protections provided by the legislation. The law strengthens deterrence through two parallel approaches: tougher penalties for all narcotics and psychotropic substance offenses, and extremely severe punishments - including life imprisonment and the death penalty - for the most serious crimes.

The second half of2025 saw total pending court cases declining by approximately 21 percent, from about 534,000 to 423,000, cases before the Court of Cassation decreased by 45 percent, from around 12,000 to 7,000, and criminal cases before the Court of First Instance fell by 27 percent, from roughly 286,000 to about 208,000. Civil and commercial appeal cases declined by approximately 27 percent, dropping from around 6,000 to 4,000, and payment orders issued under civil and commercial procedures decreased by nearly 40 percent, from approximately 56,000 to about 34,000. Internationally, Kuwait maintained its position in the 2025 Corruption Perceptions Index, despite an increase in the number of countries included in the ranking. Officials attribute this stability to extensive legislative and institutional reforms. The National Assembly approved Law No. 69 of 2025, amending the founding law of the Public Authority for Anti-Corruption (Nazaha). The amendments are intended to strengthen transparency, provide additional legal safeguards, ensure all corruption allegations are subject to judicial oversight and prevent impunity.

Justice Minister Al-Sumait previously announced what he described as the largest legislative modernization initiative in Kuwait’s history, involving cooperation among government agencies and civil society while leveraging digital technologies to improve access to justice and legal services. At the end of September 2025, Kuwait Government reviewed a plan, which aims to modernize approximately 25 percent of Kuwait’s legislation - around 250 laws - by December 2026. The initiative focuses on three main strategic pillars covering: social, economic and criminal legislation. The plan also includes clear performance indicators and implementation timelines to ensure reforms are completed according to scheduled. Since its launch, Kuwait’s legislative system has undergone rapid modernization designed to keep pace with economic, administrative and technological developments, improve efficiency of the justice system and address shortcomings identified through practical experience with existing laws. (KUNA)