Department of Sociology

The present study aimed to explore the phenomenon of consanguineous marriage in terms of its regulations, motivations, and outcomes. The applied component of the study was conducted using a snowball sample of families in the Emirate of Sharjah, adopting the descriptive–analytical approach. A validated questionnaire based on a five-point Likert scale was used as the data collection tool. The questionnaire was distributed to a sample consisting of 201 respondents during the period from May to December 2025, in order to answer the research questions related to the regulations, motivations, and outcomes of consanguineous marriage.

The study instrument demonstrated a high level of validity and reliability, with an internal consistency coefficient (Cronbach’s Alpha = 0.981), reflecting a high degree of consistency across the questionnaire dimensions. The results showed that the sample’s assessment of the social and cultural significance of consanguineous marriage in Emirati society achieved a relative weight of 80.84%, indicating a high level of acceptance and awareness of the dimensions of this type of marriage.

Furthermore, the regulations governing consanguineous marriage received the highest level of assessment, with a relative weight of 86.26%, which reflects a very high level of societal awareness regarding the importance of adhering to the associated social and health-related regulations. As for the motivations for consanguineous marriage, they obtained a relative weight of 76.64%, indicating the continued strong influence of social and cultural factors on this marital choice.

In addition, the results revealed that the study sample’s assessment of the outcomes of consanguineous marriage reached a relative weight of 75.04%, reflecting a relatively high level of awareness of its social, familial, and health-related implications.

Keywords:
Marriage; Consanguineous Marriage; Genetic Diseases; Social Cohesion.