Article

Sunday, January 18, 2026
 
search-icon
search-icon
close-icon

In Kuwait, Marriage Every 34 Minutes, Divorce Every 75

publish time

18/01/2026

publish time

18/01/2026

KUWAIT CITY, Jan 18: The Statistics and Research Department at the Ministry of Justice released the statistical report on the achievements of the Sharia Notarization Department in November 2025. The report indicated high demand for Sharia notarization services, recording tens of thousands of transactions related to marriage, authentication, divorce, reconciliation, official notification and conversion to Islam. Statistics showed that 1,252 marriage and reconciliation transactions were registered within the abovementioned month, averaging 42 transactions per day or one marriage or reconciliation every 34 minutes.

Meanwhile, 595 divorces were documented, averaging 20 divorces per day or one divorce every one hour and 15 minutes. Data revealed that the number of marriage contracts reached 1,143, averaging 38 contracts per day. Marriage between Kuwaitis accounted for the largest percentage at 73.3 percent, followed by marriage between non-Kuwaitis at 16.2 percent, then marriage between Kuwaiti men and non-Kuwaitis at 8.2 percent, while marriage between non-Kuwaitis and Kuwaiti women reached 2.3 percent. Moreover, 109 marriage authentication contracts were registered, averaging 3.6 contracts per day. Contracts between Kuwaiti husbands and non-Kuwaiti wives accounted for 54.1 percent, while no authentication contracts were registered among Kuwaiti couples.

The statistics also showed that 74.3 percent of the authentication transactions were conducted based on court rulings. The statistics revealed that 81.5 percent of marriage contracts were documented by foreign marriage officiants, compared to 18.5 percent at the Sharia Documentation Department. This is a manifestation of the reliance of clients on authorized officiants outside the department. On the other hand, 595 divorce cases were documented in November last year. Divorce among Kuwaiti couples reached 58.7 percent, while 92 cases of marital reconciliation were recorded, averaging three cases per day. Majority (85.9 percent) of these cases were documented through certificates of reconciliation.

Regarding official media and declarations of Islam, 52,359 transactions were completed, averaging 1,745 transactions per day. Official media accounted for 99.9 percent of these transactions and only 58 cases of conversion to Islam were processed online. The Farwaniya Main Courts Complex recorded the highest number of such transactions. Furthermore, the total number of transactions for stateless residents reached 1,115, with an average of 37 transactions per day. These transactions are distributed as follows: 85.7 percent official notifications, 9.5 percent marriage and attestations, 4.3 percent for divorce and 0.5 percent for review. The Jahra Center recorded the highest percentage of these transactions.

By Jaber Al-Hamoud Al-Seyassah/Arab Times Staff