Navigating a second chance: Remarriage challenges among Qataris with divorce experience

While marriage and divorce in Qatar have been widely examined, limited scholarly attention has been directed toward the challenges and barriers faced by Qataris with post-consummation divorce experience (QWDE) in relation to remarriage. This qualitative study addresses that gap by exploring how QWDE perceive and navigate the prospect of remarriage. Grounded in a social constructivist approach, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 15 Qatari men and women representing diverse marital and parental statuses. Through thematic analysis, the findings reveal gendered societal judgments toward remarriage, prevailing reluctance from families and potential spouses to accept divorcees as partners, emotional scars from previous marriages, obstructive attitudes from ex-spouses, concerns about children’s well-being, and legal challenges related to housing and potential loss of child custody. This complex interplay of sociocultural, personal, and legal factors underscores the need for contextually grounded support systems that empower QWDE considering remarriage, aligning with national efforts to strengthen family and marriage institutions in Qatar.