Between Repression and Censorship: Bader Al-Hussainan’s Case Exposes the State of Rights and Freedoms in Kuwait

On 18 June 2026, the Kuwaiti Court of Appeal sentenced comedian and content creator Bader Al-Hussainan to three years in prison, overturning an earlier acquittal. The ruling was issued in connection with a short video posted on Snapchat, in which Al-Hussainan appeared with others wearing military helmets in a satirical scene. Despite the video’s comedic[…]

Citizenship as a Weapon: Bahrain Exploits the War to Renew Its Policy of Deprivation of Citizenship

For more than a decade, citizenship in Bahrain has no longer been merely a legal bond between the citizens and the state. In several documented cases, it has instead become a tool used by the authorities to punish dissidents, activists, and members of their families. Since 2012, the authorities have resorted to revoking citizenship through[…]

Abu Dhabi Finance Week Hack Raises Concerns Over Cybersecurity and Human Rights

Months after the disclosure of a data breach involving personal data and identity documents belonging to hundreds of participants in Abu Dhabi Finance Week, the incident continues to raise questions about data protection and digital risk management at one of the Gulf’s leading international financial platforms. Reports revealed in February 2026 that more than 700[…]

The Hydrocarbon Paradox: How Fossil Fuel Dominance Became the Gulf’s Greatest Vulnerability

The security architecture of the Middle East has entered a period of profound instability following a coordinated US-Israeli military campaign against Iranian targets. The initial strikes, intended to degrade Tehran’s strategic capabilities, have instead triggered a wider theater of war across the Persian Gulf. For the Gulf states, the strategic partnership of hosting US bases[…]

Kuwait’s citizenship law overhaul amid mass revocations and growing human rights concerns

In late February 2026, the government of Kuwait approved a draft decree amending the country’s nationality law, reinforcing its stated sovereign authority over citizenship matters. In fact, on February 17, the Cabinet – chaired by Prime Minister Ahmed Abdullah Al-Ahmed Al-Sabah – approved the amendments and referred them to the Emir for final endorsement. The[…]