Divorce trends in Hail, Saudi Arabia, and their socio-cultural drivers (2010 – 2020)

Divorce has emerged as a significant and ever-increasing social challenge in contemporary Saudi Arabia, particularly among newly married couples. This study examines the structural, familial, and cultural determinants of rising divorce rates in the Hail region, which ranks among the three highest in divorce rates, according to 2020 data from the Saudi General Authority for Statistics. The research makes two principal contributions to existing scholarship. First, theoretically, it employs R. M. Emerson’s Social Exchange Theory and Terry Eagleton’s concept of culture to critically analyze how shifting social practices, expectations, and cultural norms reshape marital stability. Second, methodologically, it adopts the divorce-to-marriage ratio (DMR) (2010–2020) rather than crude or general divorce rates, thereby providing a more accurate measure of the proportional increase in marital dissolution. By integrating quantitative precision with critical socio-cultural analysis, this mixed-methods approach offers both empirical clarity and theoretical depth, advancing current studies that often rely solely on descriptive statistics. The study concludes with evidence-based recommendations aimed at strengthening socially and emotionally sustainable marital relationships in Saudi Arabia, particularly in the Hail region.