DIFI to Hold Symposium on Marriage in the Arab World

Doha International Family Institute is hosting a forum on a culturally significant conversation in the Arab world – marriage.

The symposium, titled The Arab Family Forum on Marriage, is taking place at Qatar National Convention Centre from December 2-3, and will focus on reports by Doha International Family Institute (DIFI) that discuss marital education, the state of marriage, types of marriages, current and future trends in marriage, and relationship education programs in the Arab world.

Experts from across the MENA region are set to attend the forum, which will also see the participation of youth and couples, to discuss best practices for marital education programs in Qatar.

“DIFI has produced a comprehensive report on the state of marriage in the Arab world, focusing on 22 countries,” said Dr. Sharifa Noaman Al Emadi, Executive Director of DIFI. “The report addresses various deficits in our knowledge on marriage trends, the factors that shape marriage, and the obstacles and challenges to marriage across the Arab world.”

DIFI is also undertaking a systematic review of marital education programs across the Arab region that aims to map and analyze the content, topics, and approaches used to provide policy recommendations.

A highlight of the forum will be a keynote speech by Her Excellency Dr. Haifa Abu Ghazaleh, Assistant Secretary-General and Head of the Social Affairs Sector, the Arab League. Representatives from universities in Kuwait, Lebanon, Morocco, and the UK will also speak at the forum.  

DIFI is a global policy and advocacy institute that has special consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council. It works to advance knowledge on Arab families through research and promote evidence-based polices at a national, regional, and international level and hopes to make great strides in the often overlooked topic of marriage through this forum.