Marriage rates decrease, divorce increases by 32% in UAE

Divorce rate increased in the UAE in 2016 compared to previous years, government statistics revealed yesterday.

The New Khaleej reported government figures showing that divorce rates had increased by 32.5 per cent in 2016 compared to 2015, noting that the highest divorce rates recorded in were in Ras Al-Khaimah were the figure stood at 30 per cent, followed by Abu Dhabi.

The same report revealed that marriages decreased between 2006 and 2016, noting that Ras Al-Khaimah recorded the highest marriage rates of 41.7 per cent, followed by Ajman with 25.6 per cent and Al-Sharjah with 16.3 per cent.

According to the report, 33 per cent of marriages in Abu Dhabi came to an end within the first year.

Rising cost of living, lack of houses, rise in cost of dowries were amongst a number of reasons given as to why the figures have changed so much over time.

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