No Divorce Over Phone, Court of Appeal Rules in High-Drama Marital Dispute

16/04/2026

KUWAIT CITY, April 16: The Court of Appeal has overturned a lower court ruling that had previously granted a woman a divorce from her husband, dismissing her lawsuit in a case centered on an alleged “phone divorce” dispute.

The case was filed by the wife, who claimed she was legally married under a valid contract and that her husband had already divorced her twice before, each time taking her back, followed by a remarriage. She alleged that while she was at her family home attending a wedding, a phone argument broke out between the couple, during which the husband allegedly repeated the phrase, “You are divorced, you are divorced,” which she considered a third and final irrevocable divorce.

Based on her claim, she sought a court ruling confirming the dissolution of the marriage.

However, the husband’s lawyer, Mohammed Al-Sayegh, strongly contested the allegations, arguing that his client never pronounced the divorce as claimed and that the marital relationship remained valid under a legitimate marriage contract, with the couple also having children together. The defence further stated that the wife had left the marital home without permission or valid justification, despite suitable accommodation being available.

After reviewing arguments from both sides, the Court of Appeal dismissed the case and overturned the earlier ruling that had supported the wife’s claim.