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126 THE LEGAL STATUS OF THE ARABIAN GULF STATES
(c) The Kuwaiti Nationality Law, 5 December 1959,1 comprises 24
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Articles. Article 1 stales that ‘Kuwaitis in origin arc those who arc
I deemed to have permanently resided in Kuwait before 1920 and who
have continued to reside in Kuwait up to the date of the publication
: of this Law.’ Article 2 states that ‘a person is deemed to be a Kuwaiti if
he is born in Kuwait or outside Kuwait from a Kuwaiti father’.
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Article 3 states that the following are deemed to be Kuwaiti subjects:
(1) Any person born in Kuwait or outside Kuwait from a Kuwaiti mother
I so long as his relationship to his father has not been legally established.
(2) Any person born in Kuwait of unknown parents. A foundling in
Kuwait is considered to be born in Kuwait unless the contrary is proved.
i Articles 4 and 5 provide for nationality by naturalisation. By
Article 4, nationality by naturalisation is conferred on any adult who
: satisfies the following conditions:
(1) That he has been permanently resident in Kuwait for at least 15 years,
or for 10 years if he is an Arab belonging to an Arab country, before his
application for naturalisation.
(2) That he has a lawful means of livelihood and is of good character,
with no criminal records.
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1 (3) That he has knowledge of Arabic.
By Article 5, Kuwaiti nationality may also be granted by the Kuwaiti
authorities concerned to persons who do not satisfy the conditions
of Article 4, but who may be granted Kuwaiti nationality on the
following grounds:
(1) A person who has rendered useful services to Kuwait provided that he
is an Arab belonging to an Arab country.
(2) A person who has been residing in Kuwait before 1945 and has con­
tinued this residence until the publication of this Law, provided that he is
an Arab belonging to an Arab country.
i continued his residence until the publication of this Law.2
(3) A non-Arab who has been residing in Kuwait before 1930 and has
2. The Rights enjoyed by nationals of the Shaikhdotns abroad: British
diplomatic protection
In the eyes of English law the nationals of the Shaikhdoms, although
1 Law No. 15/1959, dated 5 Jamada II 1379 (corresponding to 5 December 1959),
Al-Kuwait Al- Yawm, No. 253, Supplement, 14 December 1959. In an Explanatory
Note attached to this Law, it is provided that a Kuwaiti Nationality Law was
first issued in 1948 by the Law No. 2/1948, but that this Law based on the Egyptian
Law of 1929, was rarely applied in practice. Accordingly, no definition of Kuwaiti
nationals, in compliance with the provisions of this Law, was ever made.
2 The provisions of Articles 4 and 5 are stated above as amended by Law
No. 2/1960 of 12 Sha’ban 1379 (corresponding to 9 February 1960). Sec Al-Kuwait
A!-Yawm, No. 262, Supp. 15 February 1960, p. 7.
Translation of the text of these nationality laws has been made by the author.