The Kuwait City skyline. The majority of people in the Gulf country seeking asylum are stateless people, known as the 'bidoon'. Bloomberg
The Kuwait City skyline. The majority of people in the Gulf country seeking asylum are stateless people, known as the 'bidoon'. Bloomberg
The Kuwait City skyline. The majority of people in the Gulf country seeking asylum are stateless people, known as the 'bidoon'. Bloomberg
The Kuwait City skyline. The majority of people in the Gulf country seeking asylum are stateless people, known as the 'bidoon'. Bloomberg

Gulf

More than 5,400 Kuwait residents applied for asylum abroad since 2018, report says

Most sought asylum in the UK, Canada, the US, France, Germany and Scandinavian countries

The National

March 31, 2023

  • English
  • Arabic

More than 5,400 people residing in Kuwait have applied for asylum in other countries since 2018, according to a recent study.

The majority of those seeking asylum were stateless people known as the “bidoon”, the Arabian Gulf Centre for Studies and Research, a think tank in Kuwait, said.

About 120,000 bidoon live in Kuwait.

People from Ethiopia, Eritrea, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Lebanon living in Kuwait were among those who applied for asylum.

Most of the asylum applications were to the UK, Canada, the US, France, Germany and Scandinavian countries.

Kuwait's population in 2022 was estimated to be 4.4 million, with foreigners accounting for about 70 per cent of the total.

Iraq and the UAE were the top Arab destinations, with as many as 150 seeking asylum in Iraq since 2018.

The report said the number of asylum applications from residents of Kuwait fell to about 565 in 2022, from 1,359 in 2018.

About 254 of them applied for asylum in European nations, a marginal decline from 257 in 2020.

The UN High Commissioner for Refugees revealed that about 1,029 people in the Gulf country applied for asylum in other nations in 2021, corresponding to about 0.024 per cent of the entire population of the country.

The most preferred destinations were the UK, France and Austria.

Overall, 62 per cent of asylum applications were rejected.

Despite the decrease in 2022, Kuwait had the highest number of asylum seekers in the Gulf region.

It was ranked 16th among Arab countries, the report said, based on statistics from European Agency for Asylum, an EU agency.

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Why are asylum seekers being housed in hotels?

The number of asylum applications in the UK has reached a new record high, driven by those illegally entering the country in small boats crossing the English Channel.

A total of 111,084 people applied for asylum in the UK in the year to June 2025, the highest number for any 12-month period since current records began in 2001.

Asylum seekers and their families can be housed in temporary accommodation while their claim is assessed.

The Home Office provides the accommodation, meaning asylum seekers cannot choose where they live.

When there is not enough housing, the Home Office can move people to hotels or large sites like former military bases.

Biog

Mr Kandhari is legally authorised to conduct marriages in the gurdwara

He has officiated weddings of Sikhs and people of different faiths from Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Russia, the US and Canada

Father of two sons, grandfather of six

Plays golf once a week

Enjoys trying new holiday destinations with his wife and family

Walks for an hour every morning

Completed a Bachelor of Commerce degree in Loyola College, Chennai, India

2019 is a milestone because he completes 50 years in business

 

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Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.

“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.

“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”

If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.

 

 

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