The marriage landscape in Kuwait is undergoing a notable shift. While Kuwaiti citizens previously looked abroad for life partners, new government policies and social changes are now reversing that trend. A recent report highlights that more Kuwaitis are marrying within their own country, with a significant drop in marriages to foreigners.

Citizenship Law Driving the Shift

One of the primary reasons behind this changing trend is Kuwait’s amendment to its citizenship law. Recently, the Kuwaiti government revoked the residency status of 42,000 foreign women married to Kuwaiti men. This move has made many citizens reconsider marrying non-Kuwaitis, fearing potential complications for their spouses.

Decline in Foreign Marriages

According to the Arab Times Kuwait, from January to May 2025, only 75 Kuwaiti men married foreign women—a 21% drop compared to 96 marriages in the same period last year.

Marriages with women from:

• Asia dropped from 36 in 2024 to 16 in 2025.

• Europe fell from 10 to 6.

• America saw a sharp fall, from 4 to just 1 this year.

Surge in Marriages With Syrian and Lebanese Women

Despite the overall decline, there has been a rise in Kuwaiti men marrying Syrian and Lebanese women:

• Syrian brides increased from 17 in 2024 to 25 in 2025.

• Lebanese brides rose from 8 to 12 in the same period.

These two nationalities now lead among foreign brides in Kuwait.

Kuwaiti Women Preferred More Than Ever

Domestic marriages are on the rise. From January to May 2025, 2,101 Kuwaiti men married Kuwaiti women, an increase from 2,046 during the same period in 2024—marking a 3% rise.

Marriage Laws in Kuwait

• Both men and women must be at least 18 years old.

• Marriages to foreigners require background checks and full disclosure of documentation to authorities.

• Marriages typically follow Islamic customs, though civil options exist.

• Two witnesses are mandatory for a civil marriage.