RIYADH: Data from the Justice Ministry has revealed that the divorce rate in the Kingdom is growing. The total number of divorce cases among Saudis reached 40,394 in 2015.
Specialists, consultants, social workers and lawyers say that addressing the phenomenon of high divorce rates in the Kingdom has become essential, requiring a quick response before the problem grows out of control.
Makkah topped the list of divorce cases (329), followed by the Eastern Province (137), Riyadh (128), Jazan (100), Al-Qassim (55), Al-Jouf (46), and Asir (42).
Bayan Zahran, a lawyer, said the phenomenon of couples’ marrying at an early age is the primary reason for divorce, as the decision to marry requires a real understanding of partnership.
She said the exaggerated dowry and marriage costs are the actual reasons for the accumulation of debts, which affect the couple’s relationship with each other and can eventually cause divorce.
However, Dr. Abdulaziz Al-Mutawa, a social expert, said the young age of the couples is not the main cause of the high rate of divorce in the Kingdom. He said the economic situation plays a more important role regarding the issue.
Separately, reports showed that Yemeni women ranked first in asking for divorce from their Saudi husbands, at 26, followed by Palestinians (five), Jordanians (two), and Egyptians, Sudanese, Iraqis, Afghans and Pakistanis (one each).
The number of foreign women who divorced their Saudi husbands reached 39, while that of Saudi women who divorced their foreign husbands reached 34.
Saudi men divorced 657 foreign wives while foreign men divorced 128 Saudi wives, according to figures by the Ministry of Justice.
Specialists, consultants, social workers and lawyers say that addressing the phenomenon of high divorce rates in the Kingdom has become essential, requiring a quick response before the problem grows out of control.
Makkah topped the list of divorce cases (329), followed by the Eastern Province (137), Riyadh (128), Jazan (100), Al-Qassim (55), Al-Jouf (46), and Asir (42).
Bayan Zahran, a lawyer, said the phenomenon of couples’ marrying at an early age is the primary reason for divorce, as the decision to marry requires a real understanding of partnership.
She said the exaggerated dowry and marriage costs are the actual reasons for the accumulation of debts, which affect the couple’s relationship with each other and can eventually cause divorce.
However, Dr. Abdulaziz Al-Mutawa, a social expert, said the young age of the couples is not the main cause of the high rate of divorce in the Kingdom. He said the economic situation plays a more important role regarding the issue.
Separately, reports showed that Yemeni women ranked first in asking for divorce from their Saudi husbands, at 26, followed by Palestinians (five), Jordanians (two), and Egyptians, Sudanese, Iraqis, Afghans and Pakistanis (one each).
The number of foreign women who divorced their Saudi husbands reached 39, while that of Saudi women who divorced their foreign husbands reached 34.
Saudi men divorced 657 foreign wives while foreign men divorced 128 Saudi wives, according to figures by the Ministry of Justice.
