UAE birth rate takes alarming plunge

The dramatic drop in the birth rate among newly-married UAE national couples has been partly attributed to housing problems because they cannot afford a home, and are forced to live with their parents.

Director-General of the UAE Marriage Fund, Jamal Obaid Al Bah, said in the 1970s, the birth rate was 41 babies per 1,000 couples. "The figure was 31 in the 1990s and it has plummeted to a mere 23 now," he said.

He was addressing a large gathering of national men and women at a seminar organised at the Shamal Folklore Association yesterday. Al Bah stressed that this sharp drop is partly because of housing problems faced by newly-married nationals who do not feel free enough to have more children while living with their parents.

He said, "The housing problem faced by nationals has become a key issue. However, every effort is being made to solve it." Al Bah blamed nationals who are not abiding by the instructions of President His Highness Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan to limit wedding costs to a maximum of Dh20,000. Dowry should be restricted to a maximum of Dh30,000.

"These points should be clearly mentioned in the marriage contract, and those who do not list them, will not get financial assistance by the Marriage Fund," he warned. He pointed out that a number of nationals who benefit from the Marriage Fund, fritter away the money. Some even borrow more money from banks, and spend it on "trivial things" rather than housing.

Al Bah stressed the importance of planning. He urged nationals to be careful, especially when thinking of taking loans and stressed that they must live a life without debt.

"Planning should be a key factor for nationals, and parents should instil this in their children. Parents must ingrain in their children that taking random loans from banks is not right." He said the Marriage Fund will never be able to play its role unless nationals cooperate. "It is high time that people realise that a marriage will be successful if the family is not in debt."

He said the UAE Marriage Fund has succeeded in reducing the number of divorces among nationals, particularly young couples. "The Fund has also helped reduce the number of inter marriages. Fewer nationals are marrying foreigners," he added.

He said the Marriage Fund has started giving financial assistance to older nationals to discourage them from getting married to foreigners, particularly younger women. Al Bah said the Marriage Fund will become a national body with departments and sections, and will have branches all over the seven emirates so that it can play a more active role.