Number of divorce cases in UAE 2009-2021
2021 saw the highest level of divorce cases registered in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) since 2009. Since 2009, divorce figures in the country primarily hovered around four thousand, peaking at around 4,800 and 4,900 in 2014 and 2015, respectively. 2012 saw the lowest number of divorces, with approximately 3,900 cases.
Marriage in the UAE
has a pragmatic legal system governing issues such as divorce. Due to its high expat non-Muslim population, it has adapted its judicial system to better serve its diverse communities. Previously, both Muslim and non-Muslim residents were subject to the country’s Islamic courts in matters pertaining to divorce. This changed with the new federal Civil Personal Status Law, which came into effect in February 2023. The recent rise in divorce cases is in line with the overall trend of divorce cases in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). This trend is understandable, as the number of marriage contracts in the UAE has also increased significantly in the past few years.
Social change in the region
Social dynamics in the region are seeing visible changes. Recently, countries in the GCC have gradually loosened restrictions traditionally placed on women. The UAE was already at the forefront of this transition, with women playing an active role in both the public and private sectors. More recently, countries like Saudi Arabia have seen a notable increase in the participation of women in the economy. This, however, presents new challenges, such as a discrepancy in average wages between men and women which, as in many other developed economies, remains a lingering issue.
