Examining men’s complaints about rising dowry in Kuwait

Examining men’s complaints about rising dowry in Kuwait

By Ghadeer Ghloum

KUWAIT: In Kuwait, the topic of dowry, also known as ‘mahr,’ has become a subject of heated discussions and complaints among men. Dowry, a longstanding tradition in many cultures, refers to the financial gift given to a bride by her husband at the time of marriage. While it holds value in celebrating the union of two individuals, there has been a growing concern about the escalating dowry amounts demanded in recent years. To explore the complaints made by men regarding the excessive amounts of dowries and to consider the underlying factors contributing to pushing women towards asking for such amounts, Kuwait Times interviewed two young men and a woman.

Ali Ibrahim, a newlywed young man and a father-to-be, shared with Kuwait Times his thoughts regarding excessive dowries. “In my opinion, a high dowry decreases the blessings of marriage and increases its difficulties. On the other hand, the bride’s family believes it increases the value of the bride. Others consider it as trading the girl for a large sum of money, which is considered – forbidden. In my opinion as a father, I believe it is important to know the qualities and financial capabilities of the potential husband before determining