Page 280 - The Persian Gulf Historical Summaries (1907-1953) Vol II_Neat

264

APPENDIX R
(Paragraph 215)

The Kuwait Nationality Law of 1948
We Ahmad al Jabir al Sabah, Amir of Kuwait,
After having perused our Order No. 1 of 1948, have ordered the following: —

Article l
The undermentioned will be considered to be Kuwaiti nationals by virtue of
the law: —
1. Members of the Ruling Family.
2. Any person considered, on the date of issue of this law, a Kuwaiti
subject, by virtue of permanent residence in Kuwait since 1899, and who has
continued to reside in Kuwait up to the date of publication of this law.

Article II
The following will be considered Kuwaiti subjects: —
1. Any person born in, or outside, Kuwait of a Kuwaiti father.
2. Any person born in, or outside, Kuwait of a Kuwaiti mother so long
as his relation to his father has not been legally established.
3. Any person born in Kuwait of unknown parents. A foundling in
Kuwait is considered to be born in Kuwait unless the contrary is proved.
4. Any person bom in Kuwait whose father was born in Kuwait, provided
that the nationality of the father was that of a country whose nationals are
subject to the jurisdiction of the Ruler of Kuwait and the majority of whose
inhabitants speak Arabic or are Moslems.
Article III
Anyone born in Kuwait, of parents who are foreigners but whose usuai
residence at his majority was in Kuwait, is considered a Kuwaiti provided he
relinquishes his original nationality and decides to opt for Kuwait Nationality
within one year of attaining his majority.
Whoever satisfied the conditions laid down in the preceding paragraph, but
was prevented from making a decision within the appropriate period of time, may
apply to the Chief of the Security Department for permission to make such a
decision. It is probable that he will be granted permission on proof of prevention
provided that the period of delay does not exceed one year. The Chief of the
Public Security Department may also allow whoever satisfied the above-mentioned
conditions before the publication of this Order to benefit by the foregoing Order
during a period of one year following the publication of this Order.

Article IV
Naturalisation confers on its holder the quality of being a Kuwaiti and this
turalisation may be granted by a decree to every foreign adult who has made
h' U ermanent residence in Kuwait for a period of at least ten years and who
satisfies the following conditions:-
1. Good conduct.
2 Means of earning his livelihood.
3 Knowledge of the Arabic language.
Article V
lkation may be granted by a decree to a foreign adult who satisfies the
Natural is . wn jn |he previous article, provided he desires naturalisation
conditi°ns *a.! j permission to reside in Kuwait, and in fact, has resided in Kuwait
and has obtain > |ca$t ^ years from tf,e date 0f the permit. Nevertheless, this
for a period pi ^ vojd if the applicant fails to apply for naturalisation within
r>ermission w.r applies and his application is rejected,
five years or *