Saudi Arabia is witnessing a troubling surge in divorce cases, with official figures revealing that an average of one marriage ends every nine minutes in the kingdom.
According to data released by the Ministry of Justice and the General Authority for Statistics, a total of 57,595 divorces were recorded in 2025. That equates to roughly 157 separations per day and accounts for 12.6% of all registered marriages this year. Alarmingly, more than 65% of these divorces happened within the first year of marriage, despite often extravagant weddings and strong emotional investments.
As reported by Gulf News, the Al Baha region registered the highest divorce rate at 36%, followed by Riyadh at 21.7% and Hail at 19.2%.
Real-life stories underscore the emotional toll behind the statistics. Fahad Al Otaibi, 29, separated from his wife just 45 days after their grand wedding. “We started arguing a week after the wedding,” he told Gulf News. “Despite the preparations, we realized we were incompatible.”
Similarly, 25-year-old Reem Al Qahtani ended her marriage after only 40 days, realizing that affection alone could not compensate for her husband’s lack of communication and accountability. Meanwhile, Ahmed Al Raithi, 32, said his relationship fell apart right after their European honeymoon. “She wanted perfection. I wanted peace,” he shared. “We couldn’t meet in the middle.”
Social specialist Ahmed Al Najjar said the trend points to a deeper issue: couples entering marriage unprepared for its realities. He cited several causes, including high wedding expenses, superficial partner choices, interference from extended families, and unrealistic expectations built during courtship.
“Marriage isn’t a celebration or a honeymoon,” Al Najjar emphasized. “It’s a long-term life project requiring maturity, communication, and realistic expectations — all of which are often absent in today’s unions.”
