Kuwait opens army enlistment for women

Cairo: Kuwait’s army has announced the opening of registration for women to join military service, marking a significant step toward enhancing female empowerment in the country.

The army’s general staff stated that registration will begin on Sunday and will remain open for three days. Eligible applicants must hold an 11th-grade certificate.

Kuwaiti women interested in volunteering are invited to register through the Defence Ministry’s official website.

According to the army, selected applicants will undergo a three-month training course, which will not include overnight stays.

Last month, a senior Kuwaiti military commander said that efforts to integrate women into the armed forces were in their “final stages.”

“This step is part of the modernisation and development currently underway in the Kuwaiti army,” said Deputy Chief of Staff Major General Sabah Jaber Al Ahmad during a meeting with senior commanders to discuss the initiative.

He praised the "qualitative" contributions that Kuwaiti women are expected to bring to various military sectors.

The meeting also addressed the legal and administrative aspects of integrating women into different army ranks and emphasised the importance of providing a supportive work environment to help them perform their duties effectively, the military added.

In 2021, then-Defence Minister Hamad Jaber Al Sabah issued a landmark decree allowing Kuwaiti women to join the military for the first time in the nation’s history. The decree initially limited female roles to civilian positions in medical and support services.