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Kuwait Mandates Military Service for 18-Year-Old Male Citizens

New amendments require male citizens to register at 18, with extended deadlines and updated exemptions.

  • Publish date: since 6 hours Reading time: 1 min read
Kuwait Mandates Military Service for 18-Year-Old Male Citizens

Kuwait is making military service compulsory for male citizens once they turn 18, starting with those born on January 1, 2012.

The move comes under new amendments to the country’s 2015 national service law, announced via Kuwait News Agency (KUNA). Officials say the changes aim to fix legal and procedural gaps in the existing system.

Registration Window Extended

Under the updated rules, the registration deadline has been extended from 60 days to 180 days, giving young men more time to complete the process.

The law also allows exemptions for only sons. In addition, firefighters from the Kuwait Oil Company will now receive exemptions similar to those granted to the Kuwait Fire Force.

Where Conscripts May Serve

The National Military Service Authority can assign recruits to one of four sectors:

  • Kuwait Armed Forces

  • Ministry of Interior

  • Kuwait National Guard

  • Kuwait Fire Force

Salaries and Benefits Protected

For those already employed, there’s some reassurance. Conscripts will continue to receive their salaries, allowances, and bonuses during service. Their time served will also count toward their total years of employment.

Authorities say the amendments are designed to streamline processes and address cases that weren’t clearly covered under the original law.

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