Kuwait overhauls army law, toughens disciplinary and recruitment rules
Dubai: Kuwait has raised the maximum period for a disciplinary punishment restricting a member of the armed forces’ liberty from 60 days to 90 days, part of an overhaul of the country’s nearly six-decade-old army law that also changes recruitment rules and introduces new forms of leave. Decree-Law No. 92 of 2026, published in the official gazette Kuwait Al Youm on Sunday, amends several…
Kuwait has recently revised its army law, intensifying both disciplinary and recruitment policies. Decree-Law No. 92 of 2026, announced in the official gazette Kuwait Al Youm on Sunday, modifies multiple provisions of Law No. 32 of 1967 governing the army. Effective from the day of its publication, the amendment increases the maximum disciplinary punishment for liberty restriction from 60 days to 90 days.
The modification aims to enhance the military disciplinary system's effectiveness and provide authorities with more leeway to impose penalties commensurate with the gravity of offenses while preserving established protections.
Additionally, the Minister of Defence gains more control over recruitment prerequisites. Instead of rigidly stipulating an admission age in the law, Article 32 now permits the minister to determine these requirements via decision, along with any exceptions. This amendment allows the military to better adapt to shifting recruitment needs and policies.
Similarly, the Minister of Defence will now be responsible for setting the medical fitness prerequisites for military service, enabling the armed forces to align medical standards with scientific progress and evolving operational demands.
The amended Article 40 grants the defence minister authority to establish the admission age and any exceptions for non-commissioned officers and enlisted personnel, aligning these rules with those governing officer recruitment. By establishing a consistent legislative framework, the government seeks to simplify the updating of recruitment prerequisites as required.
Another amendment legitimizes the army's recruitment of professionals and other specialized categories through special contracts, with terms governed by regulations and decisions issued by the Minister of Defence. The provision aims to accommodate the armed forces' increasing demand for specialized personnel, providing more adaptable contractual arrangements to attract and retain personnel with the skills vital to the military.
Furthermore, the army's leave system is expanded with the introduction of special leave, which may be granted with full pay, reduced pay, or no pay. This measure grants the military administration greater flexibility in managing personnel requiring special leave while balancing individual circumstances against operational necessities.
The proposed changes represent an update to a law enacted in 1967, reflecting the changes the armed forces have undergone over six decades. Organizational and administrative transformations have necessitated modernizing specific provisions and granting the military administration more latitude over matters that evolve with operational requirements. The decree also eliminates any provisions conflicting with the new amendments and directs the prime minister and relevant ministers to implement the law.
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