Dr. Adil Abdul Aziz, a consultant for social behavior at Hira General Hospital, believed it was not a concern that 10 marriages out of 1000 end up in divorce. He claimed it meant divorce was an issue, not a phenomenon, especially when the Kingdom’s vast population was taken into account.

Adil added one reason for the significant divorce rate was that couples did not possess qualifications that could make them compatible. "But that is only one reason. Economic and social changes are contributing to these divorces. The major reason behind them is the changing roles of family members," he said.

"Parents and grandparents used to perform a defined role of husband and wife, mother and father. In the past, parents would not fight in front of their children. Nowadays, as parents fail to define their roles this is reflected in the family and children as a result."

He added that husbands misuse their power in the household, which leads not only to divorce but also misyar marriages, second marriages and domestic violence.

Aziz added that there is also a lack of comprehensive premarital rehabilitation programs, adding that they would be useful only if they include workshops.

He added that girls have benefited from workshops that discuss factors leading to divorce, which a married couple might not reveal due to social taboos.

However, he claimed that less men were willing to attend these programs and felt offended if they are asked to, often responding that they are mature and do not need any form of counseling.

The divorce rate is high among young couples who often part ways within the first two years of marriage, he said, adding that many divorces happen for relatively minor reasons. Reconciliation facilities in the Kingdom managed to save only 1,280 troubled marriages.

Aziz said that couples tend to consult these reconciliation committees when it is often too late. He added that many of these people are not willing to discuss their private life with strangers, while others attend once and then refuse to go back. The study also revealed that out of the female expatriate population, Saudi men preferred Yemenis, followed by Syrians, Pakistanis, and Palestinians. Saudi women preferred Yemenis, followed by Kuwaitis, Qataris, and Syrians.

Marriages between Saudis and expatriates accounted for 2.9 percent of the total in the Kingdom.

Expatriate-expatriate marriages account for 7.7 percent and usually involve people from the Yemeni, Pakistani, and Palestinian communities.

There were 323 marriages involving Filipinos in the Kingdom where the judge acted as the legal guardian for the bride. This was the case for 30 Yemeni and 28 Pakistani marriages.