War Costs Squeeze Marriage Dreams
Overnight,
Iran’s war cast a long shadow over the lives of Arab citizens. As prices for
gold, real estate, and food soared, the dream of marriage transformed into an
arduous burden—a goal increasingly out of reach.
In a
modest room in a Cairo neighborhood, a young man in his twenties sat gazing at
photos of his fiancée. Their wedding had been postponed due to the skyrocketing
costs of marriage essentials following the outbreak of the
"Israeli"-American war on Iran and Iranian attacks on Gulf states.
A
succession of wars and crises submerging the Arab region has triggered surges
in real estate, appliance, and food prices. Has marriage in the Arab world
become a forbidden luxury?
Cost Shock
Prior to
the war, marriage costs in the Arab world—specifically in the Gulf—were already
high. In Egypt, for instance, expenses exceed 2 million Egyptian pounds. In
Kuwait, the total cost reaches approximately 30,000 Kuwaiti dinars, with the
dowry alone ranging between 6,000 and 10,000 dinars.
The
recent war on Iran has exacerbated the situation, mounting pressure on citizens
and saddling them with additional burdens as fuel, real estate, food, and
various other products surged in price.
Regarding
wedding preparations, recent events have driven up transportation costs; rising
fuel prices have inflated the rates for wedding car rentals and guest shuttles.
Home
furnishings have also seen a price hike. The cost of electrical appliances and
electronics rose due to surging shipping and insurance fees. Similarly,
furniture prices climbed as imported timber and metals were impacted by rising
supply chain expenses, pushing up the final price of furniture pieces.
Wedding
reception bills have also soared, as higher transport and agricultural expenses
drove up food and beverage prices, directly impacting the cost of wedding
banquets.
The
housing crisis has intensified as soaring construction material prices—notably
steel and cement—have driven up rents and property values, placing an added
burden on prospective newlyweds.
While
accurate official statistics on post-war wedding costs remain unavailable,
marriage rates are expected to decline further in the wake of this crisis.
Trade Gap
Economic
expert Mamdouh Al-Wali states that the rising costs of marriage are directly
linked to the duration of the war and its subsequent impact on Arab economies.
In the 14 Arab nations grappling with chronic trade deficits—notably Egypt,
Morocco, Jordan, Sudan, Lebanon, and Tunisia—prices of imported goods are set
to soar. This includes home appliances; even locally manufactured items are
affected, as most of their components are imported. This trend extends to
various marriage essentials, from kitchenware to housing finishing materials.
Speaking
to Al-Mujtama, he added that these increases will not fall below 20%,
given the rising cost of metals used in local home appliance manufacturing.
Al-Wali
noted that by late February—marking the onset of the war—inflation rates were
already elevated: 13.4% in Egypt, 11.6% in Palestine, 12.3% in Lebanon, and
11.35% in Syria. However, both experts and citizens view these figures with
skepticism. While official calculations are based on a broad basket of goods
and services, the average citizen's consumption is concentrated on a limited
selection. Consequently, there is a widespread perception that official
inflation rates significantly understate the true economic reality.
Rescue Solutions
According
to Al-Wali, solutions begin with seeking divine assistance and adhering to the
Prophet’s (PBUH) Hadith: "Three are entitled to Allah’s help: the one who
marries seeking chastity, the slave who strives to pay for his freedom, and the
fighter in the cause of Allah.
Furthermore,
he calls on governments to support youth entering marriage through initiatives
such as soft loans or tax breaks on wedding essentials.
Al-Wali
emphasizes that the primary support governments can provide is the creation of
suitable job opportunities with wages that cover basic living costs and allow
for a surplus to be saved for marriage. Furthermore, he underscores the need to
curb persistent price hikes in goods and services, particularly those that
outstrip periodic wage increases.
He adds
that high youth unemployment rates are straining marriage prospects. According
to Arab Monetary Fund (AMF) data, unemployment among youth aged 15 to 24 has
reached 44% in Egypt, 43.6% in Oman, 43.2% in Qatar, 41.7% in Bahrain, 41.1% in
Iraq, 36.6% in Jordan, 36.5% in Lebanon, 31.7% in Saudi Arabia, 29.8% in
Morocco, 29.4% in Algeria, 24.2% in the UAE, and 22.9% in Tunisia. These
figures are even higher in Yemen, Palestine, Sudan, and Somalia. Given this
reality, one can only imagine the state of youth unemployment in the wake of
the war on Iran’s repercussions.
Marriage as an Investment
Al-Wali
explains that marriage itself constitutes an investment in psychological and
social stability for young people. It heightens their sense of
responsibility—particularly after having children—and motivates them to work
harder to support their families. However, factors such as unemployment and
surging marriage costs have led to a decline in marriage rates. Data from
Egypt's Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics (CAPMAS) reveals
that the crude marriage rate dropped from 10.9 per 1,000 inhabitants in 2011 to
8.8 per 1,000 in 2024.
He
continued, noting that delaying marriage naturally slows population growth
rates—a factor that could otherwise be positively harnessed for various
economic activities both domestically and abroad. Moreover, it exacerbates the
labor shortage plaguing many industries, particularly as "Tuk-tuks"
have lured hundreds of thousands of Egyptian youth away from skilled trades, as
well as industrial, agricultural, and service sectors.
Essential Austerity
Adopting
leniency and austerity in dowries—while curbing extravagant traditions—has
become an imperative necessity. We must not overlook Islamic guidance, as the
Prophet (PBUH) said: "The best of women are those with the easiest dowries
to provide," and in another narration: "The most blessed of women are
those with the lowest dowries."
For her
part, legal expert Manal Al-Arabi proposed enacting legislation to cap dowries
and wedding expenses. Speaking to Al-Mujtama, she suggested establishing
national marriage funds to finance 70% of costs for low-income youth. In
exchange, recipients would commit to three-year public work contracts,
alongside the provision of ready-to-move-in social housing.
The toll
of war does not merely claim lives; it buries dreams beneath the rubble of
figures. Yet, true prosperity belongs to those who realize that homes are built
not with gold, but with piety. Today, our youth are in dire need of the
"jurisprudence of facilitation"—a marriage where blessing precedes
calculation and affection outweighs dowries. It is the firm belief that a
successful marriage is not forged by lavish banquets, but by hearts enriched
with faith.
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