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Couples forget wedding vows for cash and housing

Divorces rise in Ras Al Khaimah as young wives seek financial comfort

A senior official says these two financial aids, instead of contributing to stable families, are actually causing some newly married Emirati couples to rush to get a divorce.

The Ministry of Social Affairs lays down that divorcees and widows must be paid a specified sum of money every month. They are also to be given priority in the Dh500,000 Shaikh Zayed Housing Programme bonus. Jassim Al Makki, head of RAK Courts’ family counselling section, says the recent increase in divorce cases in the emirate is mostly due to the husbands’ failure to financially support their families

“Some husbands also fail to provide proper accommodation,” he says. “So wives opt to split and apply for the housing programme grant.” Divorcees also seek separation to get the Dh5,000 monthly maintenance specified by the Ministry of Social Affairs, he adds.

Other contributing factors are lack of religious awareness, poor family culture and an irrational desire to imitate social superiors, which makes people behave in a condescending or overbearing manner towards others.

Al Makki says some immature wives prefer a fixed alimony every month rather than stay married and battle out financial problems.

“Accumulated loans and monthly instalments have become major family destablising agents,” he says. Dr Mohammed Al Khatiri, Chief Judge of the Personal Status Court, RAK Courts, echoes Al Makki. The chief judge says insufficient spending on the family and the husband’s failure to provide a new house were blamed in several divorce cases he heard: “Most of the couples who approached the court seeking divorce were newly married. The wives were impatient and did not want to shoulder any financial burdens.” This year, the RAK Courts have witnessed 243 family disputes. There were 55 in April alone. The positive thing is that there were far more family consultations — over 900.

ahmedshaaban@khaleejtimes.com