Name: Ahmed Al-Harbi Academic number: 3900032

The Causes of High Divorce Rate in Saudi Arabia

According to the latest statistics, there are three divorce cases for every
ten cases of marriage. In Saudi Arabia, marriage is almost mandatory by
religion and society. In contrast, Islam allows divorce when it is mandatory also
for many reasons such as, cultural differences, social traditions, arranged
traditional marriages, and some other problems.

Cultural differences sometimes lead to divorce. When the couple has

huge intellectual conflicts, each one cannot accept the other’s thoughts and
believes. For example, education is an essential point for a woman. Because she
will be as a teacher for her children, but some husbands refuse this idea. As a
result, the wife asks for divorce because she knows that education is the most
important than marriage and a required thing. Also, the material status is a real
problem that nay faces a couple from different social classes; if they could not
coexist with the new situation, they may fail their marriage.

Another reason of divorce is the social traditions which are major

causes that make the largest proportion of divorce cases. Early marriage is a big
mistake that parents do for their children. They do not understand the situation,
and cannot make a right decision. They just marry without thinking of the
marriage responsibilities. Time after, the couple wake up and want to live the
youth life, which they should have lived before the marriage. Obviously, they
cannot continue this life with the wrong partner. Therefore, divorce is the only
solution. A serious social problem is traditional marriage that may faces any
couple. Parents choose the suitable husband for their girls and marry them
without any blind dates. Thereafter, maybe they cannot consistent for many
reasons and differences between them. So, they find themselves on the divorce
way as a result of the wrong decision that is taken by the parents.
 Other problems usually result in divorce are polygamy and infertility.
Sometimes these problems face a lot of marriage cases. Woman often does not
accept her husband to marry another woman. If he does it, she will ask for
divorce as a result. Also, having children is one of the main marriage goals, but
sometimes one of the spouses is infertile. Therefore, divorce is the only decision
that they make to solve the problem if the other partner does not accept their
fate.

Saudi Arabia is growing in awareness, and Saudis these days are well
aware. All these social and traditional problems are almost disappeared.
However, divorce is a double-edged sword. It can destructive a family, or
maintains a future.