Political circles in Kuwait have been occupied with developments regarding the passports issued to the stateless population, known as "bedoons." In Kuwait, the term "bedoon" refers to a group of individuals who do not hold Kuwaiti citizenship and lack official documents that fully and legally establish their identity. This issue dates back to the period following independence from British occupation in 1961, when not all residents were accurately registered, and citizenship was not granted to certain individuals from nomadic tribes that moved between Kuwait and neighboring countries.
There have been ongoing efforts from the Kuwaiti government and the international community to resolve this issue and grant the bedoons their full rights. Some steps have been taken to improve their legal and social status, but much work remains to resolve this problem comprehensively and definitively.
In a recent statement, the Kuwaiti Ministry of Interior announced the suspension of the use of travel documents for the stateless population in the country. The statement, made via the social media platform "X," indicated that Sheikh Fahd Youssef Saud Al-Sabah, the Deputy Prime Minister, and Minister of Defense and Interior, directed the cessation of the use of Article 17 passports designated for individuals residing unlawfully, along with all related transactions, except in humanitarian cases like medical treatment and education.
These passports are issued to facilitate travel for the stateless population but do not carry the benefits of Kuwaiti passports. The Ministry noted that all holders of the Article 17 passport are considered invalid and urged those with humanitarian cases to visit the Al-Adan Center according to an appointment made through its website.
Kuwaiti media sources reported that instructions were given to confiscate all passports of individuals residing unlawfully (Article 17) upon departure or arrival through any ports, whether air, land, or sea. They also indicated that all airlines have been instructed not to accept passengers carrying that passport at this time.
The gray passport under Article 17 is granted to the stateless population or "Bedouins of Kuwait" under specific conditions, including for education or medical treatment, and is issued at certain times. It does not carry the features of the Kuwaiti passport (the blue one), such as the right to enter Gulf Cooperation Council countries without a visa or the exemption from visa requirements for countries that waive them for Kuwaiti citizens.
The exact number of bedoons, officially referred to as "individuals residing unlawfully," is not known, but estimates suggest it ranges between 100,000 and 120,000 individuals still living in Kuwait, in addition to those who have left the country.
