UAE leads GCC in divorce rates

Divorce among Emiratis has become a major concern and councellors and scholars alike recommend training programmes to be made mandatory before youngsters tie the knot.

According to latest available statistics, the UAE leads GCC states in divorce rates, which hit 36 per cent, reported 'Emarat Al Youm'.

E’atidal Al Shamsi, Lecturer, Eadad (preparing) programme, Marriage Fund, said new couples must be educated about marital demands and the risks of divorce before they enter into a relationship.

Refresher courses have been suggested by sociologists as well as psycologists in other parts of the world. Even Shariah scholars recommend such programmes to be made compulsory to ensure stable family life, which is the foundation of a good society, Shamshi added.

"It should be something similar to driving. You cannot drive unless you possess a driving licence. So also, youngsters should not be allowed to marry until they provide a certificate of completion of any such marriage training course," Shamshi said.

Habiba Essa Al Hawsani, Director-General, Marriage Fund, said the fund provides  financial and moral support to new couples apart from helping raise awareness in them of their contribution to family and thereby social stability.

Eadad includes accredited training courses which spells out the difference in lives young people once they leave the shadows of their parents and start living as man and wife, Habiba added.

Abdullah Salem Khamis one of the participants of Eadad said: "This programme is very beneficial as it focuses of the possible problems that could crop up in any marriage. It also helps change our way of thinking."

Such programmes are adopted in Singapore and Japan where it has greatly helped reduce divorce rates, he added.

Jassim Mohammed Abdul Aziz, another participant of Eadad said: "This programmes must be made mandatory because it includes several points of Shariah laws, too."

Decline in divorce rates

Meanwhile, Mariam Al Roumi, Minister of Social Affairs, said divorce rates in the UAE has declined by five per cent in the last four years.

'Al Ittihad' quoted the minister as saying that the divorce rate was about 24 per cent in 2007, while it reduced to 19 per cent in 2009 - according to the last available statistics.

The ministry had initiated activities spanning three years, up until end-2011, to reduce the number further. These include telephone counselling; hotline with a family guide; supporting orphans until 21 years, etc. The ministry has also ameneded the Social Security Act to create more stable families, the minister added.
 

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