Kuwait has recorded a significant decrease in crimes committed by teenagers, according to Justice Ministry official Counselor Nasser Al-Sumaid. Figures from the first half of 2026 show a 48 percent drop in juvenile crimes compared to the same period last year. Cases fell from 1,523 in the first half of 2025 to 795 in 2026, marking the second consecutive year of such a steep decline.
Compared to the 1,665 cases reported in the first half of 2024, the 2026 figures reflect a 52 percent reduction. The sharpest fall was seen in traffic violations, which dropped 63 percent from 1,048 cases to 383. Cases involving physical assault also fell by 32 percent. The minister said strict enforcement of new traffic laws, along with harsher penalties for serious violations and attempted murder, helped bring down crime rates.
Tough legal action against drugs and psychotropic substances also produced results. Making it a serious offense to carry deadly weapons, including knives, in public places without valid reason, and imposing severe punishment on those who use such weapons to threaten others, played a crucial role in curbing crime.
Al-Sumaid credited the achievement to strong monitoring systems by the Interior Ministry and rehabilitation efforts by the Ministry of Social Affairs, also praising support from the Supreme Council for Family Affairs and the Ministry of Health in preventing violence against children. He added that combined legislation, strict enforcement, and social awareness drove this positive shift.
