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Kuwait Times reported on September 10 that Decree-Law No 80 of 2026 replaces a 36-year-old statute in a bid to modernize judicial operations and address persistent delays for litigants. The legislation introduces several targeted measures at the Court of Cassation where appeals have historically accumulated for years. Kuwaiti courts have faced structural bottlenecks including judge shortages and inconsistent rulings that the new framework seeks to resolve through procedural updates.
The law’s explanatory memorandum cited by Kuwait Times specifies that experienced counselors from the Court of Appeals may receive temporary assignments to the Court of Cassation. This provision directly responds to the accumulation of appeals that has left parties waiting extended periods for resolutions. The assignments aim to bolster capacity at the highest judicial level without permanent restructuring of the bench.
Different court circuits have at times issued conflicting decisions on the same legal questions creating uncertainty across the system according to the Kuwait Times account of the law. The legislation establishes an 11-member Unification of Principles Panel that the Court President or Technical Office can convene to issue a binding rule. All court chambers must then adhere to the unified principle thereby reducing the need for further escalation on such matters.
Virtual hearings form another element of the decree-law as outlined in the Kuwait Times report. This option seeks to minimize scheduling conflicts and logistical requirements associated with in-person sessions. Supporting regulations will define the parameters for conducting proceedings remotely while preserving procedural integrity.
Statistical data cited by experts in the September 10 Kuwait Times article indicate that prior procedural adjustments produced notable efficiency gains. Overall court case volumes dropped by 20 percent. Appeals filed at the Court of Cassation declined by 40 percent compared with the previous year.
Times Kuwait reported in July 2026 that the Court of Cassation settled 17,434 appeals during the 2025-2026 judicial year representing a 17.7 percent increase over the prior period. Misdemeanor appeals chambers at the Court of First Instance resolved 36,093 cases a 203 percent rise that reduced hearing appointment periods from more than two years to no more than two months. The Court of Appeal disposed of 33,195 appeals against 31,790 new filings in the same timeframe according to the publication’s review of judicial performance.
