Saudi Arabia’s Justice Ministry has recorded a 47 per cent increase in lawsuits brought by women to divorce their husbands over the past year, according to a report.

More than 2,000 cases, known as hula, took place until the end of the Hijra year (October 23), said the Arab News report.

There were 512 cases in Makkah region, 324 in Riyadh and 191 in the Eastern Province, it said.


There were also an increasing number of lawsuits filed by husbands wanting their wives to return home over the past year, rising from 92 to 705 in Makkah, 36 to 541 in Riyadh, 148 to 319 in the Eastern Province, followed by Madinah and Qassim, said the report.

Meanwhile, the ministry said it is will soon launch a “divorce index” that would have statistics, reasons for breakups, and its social effects. 


The project, aimed at finding solutions to divorces, would be launched next year in Makkah, Madinah, Riyadh, Dammam and Jeddah courts, said the report.

The Weaam association for family affairs would also launch workshops, with government support, that would provide advice to couples on how to deal with conflict, it added.