Sharjah — A newly-married man in the United Arab Emirates has divorced his wife, saying he could not recognise her once her make-up came off during a swim. The incident has drawn criticism and raised questions about appearance, honesty, and marriage expectations.
The couple, an unnamed 34-year-old man and his 28-year-old wife, visited Al Mamzar Beach in Sharjah. While swimming, the wife’s make-up washed off. According to a consultant psychologist, Dr. Abdul Aziz Asaf, the husband was shocked by how her appearance changed without cosmetics and claimed that he had been “deceived” by her pre-wedding use of artificial eyelashes and cosmetic surgeries.
Reasons Given
The husband apparently believed that his wife “did not look as pretty as before the wedding.” He accused her of misleading him by enhancing her features with make-up, fake eyelashes, and surgical procedures. The wife had planned to disclose some of these enhancements before the marriage, but said it was too late.
Aftermath
Dr. Asaf, the psychologist who counselled the wife after the divorce, reported that the husband immediately divorced her and refused all attempts to reconcile.
The wife has reportedly sought psychological support to cope with the emotional distress following the split.
This case has stirred debate in UAE and beyond about honesty in relationships, the role of social expectations of beauty, and whether cosmetic enhancement should be disclosed in personal relationships. Some commentators argue that misrepresentations of appearance can lead to genuine marital trust issues. Others see this as an extreme case of superficiality or misplaced expectations. (Sources: social commentary in media)
While under UAE law divorces can occur for many reasons, it is unclear whether appearance or deception over cosmetic enhancements explicitly qualifies for legal action. From a psychological standpoint, experts say that expectations, communication before marriage, and realistic understandings of appearance are important to avoid misunderstandings.
