Justice Ministry Expands Kuwaitization Map
Mubarak Habib – A senior official at the Ministry of Justice revealed that the Kuwaitization of judicial positions is not limited to judges, but extends to various operational roles within the court system, in a move aimed at strengthening the presence of national cadres in the judiciary. The source told Al-Qabas that the Kuwaitization of the court session secretary position will enter into actual implementation next November, as part of the ministry’s plan to localize jobs directly linked to the flow of judicial proceedings.
The source clarified that the ministry has made significant progress in Kuwaitizing the court usher position, which has been renamed “Judicial Session Coordinator.” Applications have been opened for citizens to fill the role, with 28 citizens meeting the application requirements, paving the way for the completion of appointment and training procedures.
The source emphasized that the ministry’s goal is not merely to Kuwaitize positions, but to Kuwaitize competencies, given the sensitivity of court-related roles and their importance in ensuring the smooth flow of procedures and the proper administration of justice.
In a related context, the source noted that the corrective and developmental measures adopted by the Ministry of Justice have begun to bear fruit, pointing to the disappearance of the problem of lost files in courts and a decline in the number of cases as among the most tangible outcomes.
The source explained that the shift to electronic work and the automation of procedures have significantly reduced the likelihood of losing documents, records, and files, while also enhancing data preservation and ease of retrieval.
It was affirmed that the Kuwaitization plan in the courts is progressing on multiple levels, from the judge to the session secretary, and down to the court usher (judicial session coordinator).
The source outlined three consecutive steps to accelerate Kuwaitization, including training, qualifying, and empowering young Kuwaitis, stressing high-level directives to inject fresh blood into the judicial establishment and facilitate operations within the courts.
The source reaffirmed that the loss of case files has dropped to “zero” in the courts, thanks to digitization, and that the automation rate of litigation procedures has reached 100%, noting that digitization safeguards rights.
It was pointed out that the number of cases is expected to decrease from one million to 800,000 by the end of 2026. The source also highlighted the importance of the recently enacted Commercial Arbitration Law, which will alleviate the burden of commercial disputes on the courts.
The source revealed that alternative penalties will be implemented soon to reduce case rates as part of the development of the legislative framework, noting that four new laws are in the “final stages” and will be enacted shortly.
Kuwaiti Experts: Competence and Efficiency
A senior official confirmed that national competencies have proven their worth and achieved tangible accomplishments in the General Directorate of Experts, which was fully Kuwaitized (100%) at the beginning of last August, in implementation of the first phase of the directorate’s development plan launched by Justice Minister, Counselor Nasser Al-Samit, last May.
The Minister of Justice had previously announced the launch of a comprehensive plan to develop the General Directorate of Experts, prioritizing the full Kuwaitization of the directorate starting from the beginning of August 2026, through the termination of the services of all non-Kuwaitis working in expert engineering, accounting, and legal research positions.
Judicial Figures
- 87%: Current Kuwaitization rate in the judiciary
- 100%: Target Kuwaitization rate in the judiciary by September 30, 2030
- 20%: Expected reduction in cases before the courts by mid-2026
- 1 million: Number of cases currently pending before the courts
- 800,000: Expected number of cases by the end of the current year
- 32 judges per 10,000 population in Kuwait
