The Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Authority in the country revealed that mixed marriage contracts for citizens decreased by 17.3% during the first half of this year, compared to the first half of last year, while two experts confirmed that the decline was due to the implications of the emerging Corona virus, and awareness campaigns organized by the competent authorities.
The authority said in recent statistics, "Emirates Today" obtained a copy of it, that the total marriage contracts between a citizen and a non-citizen and between a citizen and a non-citizen amounted to 1067 contracts during the first half of this year, compared to 1291 contracts during the same period last year, down 224 contracts.
Statistics showed that marriage contracts between a citizen and a non-citizen decreased during the first half of this year by 15%, as the number of contracts reached 833 marriage contracts compared to 981 marriage contracts during the same period last year, a decrease of 148 contracts.
She explained that marriage contracts between citizens and non-citizens also fell during the comparison period by 24.5%, as the number of marriage contracts between citizens and non-citizens reached 234 contracts in the first half of this year, compared to 310 contracts during the same period last year, down 76 contracts.
Statistics also revealed the decline in marriage contracts between male and female citizens during the first half to reach 2672 contracts, compared to 3042 contracts, due to the impact of the new Corona Virus (Covid-19), where the number of marriage contracts reached 515 contracts last January, then 593 contracts last February, Then 498 contracts last March, and then the marriage contracts fell sharply during the last April and May during the peak of "Corona" to reach 259 contracts and 207 contracts respectively, then return to rise again to reach 600 contracts last June.
The family counselor, professor of societal culture at the Canadian University in Dubai, Dr. Saif Al-Jabri, commented that the decline in mixed marriage is due to the growing culture of family awareness of mixed marriage and some of its consequences, indicating that the Corona pandemic has returned some things to its correct level, pointing at the time The same to the fact that the circumstances that struck the world because of "Corona" and its repercussions at the public and private levels affected the number of marriage contracts as they affected the various aspects of life.
Al-Jabri explained that the number of marriage contracts, both between citizens and residents, decreased due to the pandemic and caution against direct communication in these circumstances, as well as national sterilization that came to preserve the health of people, which had a direct impact on delaying marriage contracts, and changing the marriage dates agreed upon in advance.
He noted that it is noticeable that the costs of marriage are low during the crisis, as weddings were characterized by simplicity, and the costs of marriage became reasonable without extravagance or extravagance, after they were a burden on husbands, which made some young people refrain from marriage.
For his part, Ayoub Ali Abdullah, a family relations expert, said that the awareness campaigns carried out by the various concerned authorities in the state regarding the necessity of inheriting in mixed marriage, and studying the situation in all its aspects, while clarifying all aspects related to it, played a role in the decline of this type of Marriage contracts.
He explained that the number of mixed marriage contracts was also affected by the decrease in the number of marriage contracts in general due to the implications of "Corona", and the desire of some to postpone the marriage ceremony due to the circumstances, and waiting for large parties.
Decline of marriage contracts in the country
The total marriage contracts in the state (marriage contracts for citizens and expatriates alike) fell during the first half of this year, to 5901 cases, compared to 7391 cases during the first half of 2019, a decrease of 1490 cases, a decrease of 20.1%. The total number of contracts during the first half of this year, including marriage contracts for citizens and residents, reached 1213 contracts in January, then 1431 contracts in February, then 1209 contracts in March, then contracts decrease sharply during the past April and May to reach 480 and 469 contracts, respectively, then The rise rose to 1099 contracts last June.
• 15% the rate of decline in marriage contracts between citizens and non-citizens, and 24.5% among citizens and non-citizens.