More Qatari couples are splitting up than ever before due to incompatibility issues and family involvement, a population expert has said.
Some 807 Qataris filed for divorce in 2015, down 24 percent from 2009, according to the Peninsula.
But this was still up 71 percent from 2000, according to Mohammad Ali Akbeed from the Ministry of Development, Planning and Statistics (MDPS).
He shared the statistics while speaking at a recent panel on the subject in Qatar, according to Gulf News.
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“We now have to deal with really frightening numbers,” added another speaker named Ahmad Al Buainain, who was described as a family and social activist.
He asserted that spouses with huge differences in age, education level, financial status or social position have been more likely to divorce.
We also have several marriages that suffered from overspending on lavish wedding ceremonies that ended up leaving the groom in deep debts and in deeper woes that affected their morale.”
Fluctuating numbers
Divorce has been an issue of concern in the Qatari community for several years.
However, government statistics show the rate has been fluctuating since 2000, and not rising steadily as some might believe.
MDSP
Qatar’s divorce rate
In 2015, one of Qatar’s leading family experts pointed out while the divorce rate in the local community is high, Qataris are also getting “married less.”
Noor Al Malki Al Jehani, the executive director of the Doha International Family Institute, argued at the time that this was because women are becoming more economically independent.
This increases pressure on them to support their families financially, rather than getting married.
Solutions
To save marriages, family experts in Qatar have advocated pre-marital counseling and early intervention when things get difficult.
Hadia Baker, senior family counselor at the Family Consulting Center, previously told Doha News that communication and managing one’s expectations are critical.
