Kuwait will soon launch its largest legislative reform plan in history to modernize the judicial system and ease court backlogs, Justice Minister Nasser al-Sumait said on Wednesday.
Speaking during an inspection tour of the Reggae court complex, Sumait said the reform drive will involve “the combined efforts of all state bodies and civil society institutions,” harnessing digital technology to make justice more efficient and accessible.
He said all core laws will be reviewed and updated, with eight working committees currently examining legislation including the economic courts law, tenancy and landlords law, penal code, criminal procedure law and labor law, to simplify litigation.
The plan also seeks to expand alternative dispute resolution mechanisms, including judicial mediation panels staffed by seconded judges, arbitration, and technological upgrades to court systems.
Sumait said a new judiciary law was in its final stages and expected to be completed soon, describing it as “a gateway” to the most extensive judicial reform in Kuwait’s history.
Kuwait has 983 laws in force, he said, adding that since taking office he pledged to review 10% of them within a year, but committees had already examined 118 laws in eight months – surpassing the target. The goal is now to review 25% of all laws within a year.
Sumait praised the contribution of judges, prosecutors, legal scholars, the Fatwa and Legislation Department, and civil society groups. Committees are consulting experts and studying best practices in the Gulf, Arab states and beyond.
Kuwait has seen two major waves of legislative reform – from 1959 to 1965, before the constitution was adopted, and from 1978 to 1984, when most of the laws still in effect today, such as the civil code, litigation law and personal status law, were issued, Sumait said.
Citing World Bank standards that recommend eight judges per 100,000 people for swift justice, Sumait said Kuwait has 33 judges per 100,000, one of the highest ratios globally. But court caseloads far exceed those in other Gulf states – up to 10 times higher in some comparisons – meaning judges handle even the simplest disputes.
He blamed delays partly on outdated systems, noting serious flaws in notarization and power-of-attorney procedures. The only obstacle now, he said, is time. “There is no other excuse... What has been achieved is exceptional, and you will see the results soon,” he added.
