The newspaper obtained a copy of the statistics issued by the Ministry of Justice, indicating that 6,968 marriage contracts were registered in the first half of this year, compared to 3,661 divorces, in addition to 478 remarriage cases (return of wife). The statistics also revealed that marriage between Kuwaitis reached 5,112 or 73.4 percent of the total, while 588 marriages were registered between Kuwaiti men and non-Kuwaiti women, 230 between non-Kuwaiti men and Kuwaiti women and 1,038 between non-Kuwaitis. On divorce, the statistics revealed that divorce between Kuwaiti men and Kuwaiti women topped the list with 2,198 or 60 percent of the total, followed by 553 between Kuwaiti men and non-Kuwaiti women, 676 between non-Kuwaitis and 234 between non-Kuwaiti men and Kuwaiti women.

The statistics indicated that among the divorce cases, 535 or 14.6 percent involved a man still married to one or more wives, in addition to 330 cases of divorce before consummation. The statistics indicated that 74.2 percent of divorce cases were documented by ratification without the need for a court ruling — a total of 2,717 cases, compared to 18.5 percent by court ruling with 679 cases, and 7.2 percent were ‘conditional’. As for the types of divorce, the number of first revocable divorces is the highest with 2,013 cases, followed by the first irrevocable divorce with 1,063, second revocable divorce with 376, second irrevocable divorce with 78, and major irrevocable divorce with 131. Commenting on the statistics, Attorney Enaam Haider stated that “premarital guidance must be intensified and counseling sessions must be made mandatory before marriage, especially in mixed marriages.

This is a necessary step, along with the need to document their attendance in the marriage contract file.” She added that with ratification cases reaching 74 percent of all divorces, it is necessary to codify this system and improve its tools by tightening conditions for written or digital proof, while reducing reliance on mere testimony, which constitutes around 17.3 percent of divorce transactions, to ensure the protection of financial and custodial rights.” Attorney Israa Al-Haddad said “the powers of family reconciliation offices must be expanded, with clear deadlines set for amicable efforts before the divorce is finalized. These offices must be authorized to conduct immediate executive settlements for alimony, housing and custody.”