Total Kuwaitization by ’26

KUWAIT CITY, July 14: Ministry of Justice (MoJ) Undersecretary Awatif Al- Sanad announced Tuesday Kuwait plans the full Kuwaitization of judicial support positions by the end of 2026 as part of efforts to increase reliance on national talent within the justice system and ensure the sustainability of ministry operations. Speaking to KUNA, Al-Sanad said the first phase of the plan covers support roles directly linked to court operations, judicial files, procedures and case data at Kuwait’s main courts, including the Court of First Instance, Court of Appeal, Court of Cassation and Constitutional Court.

The positions targeted in this phase include court clerks, legal researchers and administrative coordinators, based on the operational needs of each department and the nature of their work, she added. As part of the first phase, the ministry will terminate the contracts of 54 non-Kuwaiti employees starting in November after completing the training and qualification of Kuwaiti replacements to assume these duties, she stated. Al-Sanad said the move implements directives issued by His Highness the Amir Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah to Kuwaitize jobs in the judiciary and follows instructions from Minister of Justice Counselor Nasser Al-Sumait.

She noted that over the past 18 months, the ministry has identified the targeted positions, assessed staffing needs in judicial support departments and trained the necessary national workforce to ensure the transition is based on genuine readiness rather than symbolic replacement. The plan will be implemented in two phases to ensure a gradual and organized transition that maintains court operations and allows for a smooth transfer of responsibilities to Kuwaiti staff, with the second phase proceeding according to departmental readiness and operational requirements, Al-Sanad explained. (KUNA)