A woman in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates, has sought a divorce after complaining that her husband is reluctant to take her out or spend leisure time travelling with her.
The case was discussed by Dr Radhia Hassan Al Raisi, director of the Family Guidance Department at Sharjah Courts, during a television programme. According to a report by local media outlet Sama TV, the woman approached the family counselling service after becoming concerned about her husband’s preference for staying at home.
She reportedly told counsellors that her husband generally preferred spending most of his time at home and showed little interest in going out with her, travelling or taking trips together. For the woman, spending time outside the home and enjoying leisure activities with her husband appeared to be an important part of married life.
Despite her frustration, the woman did not describe her husband in negative terms. On the contrary, she reportedly praised him as generous, patient and well-mannered. Her concern was primarily about his lack of enthusiasm for outings, travel and recreational activities rather than any serious problem in his behaviour or character.
The family counselling department advised her to consider spending leisure time with her siblings and other family members. She was also encouraged not to rush into a divorce decision solely because her husband did not share her enthusiasm for travelling or going out.
Officials stressed that differences in personal preferences are common in marriages. Couples may have contrasting lifestyles, interests and ideas about how they want to spend their free time. Such differences can sometimes create frustration, particularly when one partner places greater importance on shared outings and recreational activities than the other.
Dr Al Raisi said differences in lifestyle and leisure preferences can become a source of concern between husbands and wives, but not every disagreement should lead to separation. Where there are no serious underlying problems in a marriage, relatively minor differences should not automatically be turned into legal or family disputes, she said.
The advice given in the case reflects the role of family counselling in helping couples address disagreements before they develop into more serious conflicts. Rather than treating every difference in preference as evidence of an unsuccessful marriage, counsellors can encourage partners to communicate their expectations and look for practical compromises.
For some couples, travelling or going out together may be a valued way of maintaining companionship and spending quality time together. Others may feel more comfortable with a quieter routine at home. Neither preference, by itself, necessarily indicates a fundamental problem in a relationship.
The Sharjah case therefore centres on a difference in lifestyle and expectations rather than an allegation of serious marital misconduct. The counselling officials urged the woman to consider whether the disagreement could be managed through compromise and alternative ways of spending her leisure time before taking the significant step of ending the marriage.
