Recent statistical findings from the UAE Ministry of Justice have uncovered a concerning pattern in marital dissolution, with approximately 30% of all divorces occurring within the initial year of marriage. This revelation has prompted urgent discussions among mental health professionals, family counselors, and social experts regarding the underlying causes and necessary interventions.
According to comprehensive data collected from federal courts across Sharjah, Ajman, Fujairah, and Umm Al Quwain between 2020 and 2024, authorities documented 2,857 divorce cases. Among these, 851 separations—representing nearly one-third of all marital dissolutions—transpired within the first twelve months of marriage.
The statistics demonstrate that early marital breakdown affects diverse demographic groups. Of the 851 first-year divorce cases, 396 involved Emirati couples, while 627 cases featured Emirati husbands, and 17 cases involved Emirati wives married to non-Emirati spouses. Geographical analysis reveals Sharjah recorded the highest incidence with 217 cases, followed by Ajman (167), Fujairah (67), and Umm Al Quwain (22).
Mental health specialists identify several critical factors contributing to this trend. Hiba Salem, Psychologist and Adult & Families Specialist at Sage Clinics, emphasizes that many couples enter marriage with unrealistic expectations shaped by social media narratives and cultural pressures. “The surge in early divorces often stems from a profound discrepancy between expectation and reality,” she explains.
Dr. Amal Salem Basohaib, an internationally certified coach in family relations, corroborates this assessment, noting that inadequate communication skills represent one of the most prominent causes of early divorce. Conflicts regarding housing arrangements, financial management, and role expectations frequently escalate due to couples’ inability to engage in constructive dialogue.
The first year of marriage constitutes a period of intense psychological adjustment where couples must integrate different routines, financial philosophies, and core values. In the UAE’s high-pressure environment, additional stressors including expatriate pressures and absent traditional support networks further complicate this critical phase.
Experts unanimously advocate for enhanced premarital counseling programs as preventive intervention. Such counseling serves as both diagnostic tool and educational resource, helping couples identify communication styles, anticipate conflict patterns, and establish boundaries with extended families. Specialists also highlight the detrimental impact of social media, which fosters unrealistic comparisons, raises emotional and material expectations, and violates relationship privacy.
Mental health professionals call for cultural recalibration regarding marital expectations, emphasizing that successful marriages require continuous effort rather than representing an effortless destination. They recommend destigmatizing couples therapy and expanding psychoeducational programs focused on emotional intelligence and conflict resolution to address this growing societal challenge.