Data shows bid to limit Kuwaitis’ marriages with foreigners failed
The number of Kuwaiti men marrying Kuwait women has steadily decreased despite a ruling that limited their possibilities to marry non-Kuwaitis.
According to official figures, 9,664 Kuwaitis took Kuwaiti wives in 2007; however, the figure went down to 9,238 in 2008, to 8,516 in 2009, and to 8,429 in 2010.
In 2008, a joint committee made up of representatives from the ministries of justice and foreign affairs compelled Kuwaitis who wished to marry non-Kuwaitis to seek official approval for the registration of the marriage, an act that was not obtainable in many cases.
The situation led many Kuwaiti hopefuls to seek court rulings against the committee and have their marriages accepted.
The number of Kuwaiti men marrying non-Kuwaiti women has increased since 2008 when 1,113 marriages were contracted. In 2009, the figure reached 1,379, although it declined to 1,227 by the end of 2010.
The statistics from the legal notarisation administration indicate that the committee’s efforts have failed, Kuwaiti daily Arab Times reported on Sunday.
Another blow for the committee’s stated goals is that the figures showed that the number of divorce cases between Kuwaiti couples, at 63 per cent, was last year considerably higher than marriages between Kuwaiti men and non-Kuwaiti women.
