In line with the Cabinet's declaration of 2026 as the Year of Artificial Intelligence, and to further empower the Al-Mawaddah Family Development Association in enhancing beneficiary experience and digital transformation, the association continues to develop its services by leveraging the latest technologies and employing artificial intelligence in counseling and family development programs. This aims to broaden access to services, improve their efficiency, and amplify their impact. As part of developing the services of the Al-Mawaddah Center for Social and Psychological Family Support, Al-Mawaddah launched the "Smart Counselor," which provides instant family counseling using artificial intelligence around the clock, with the option to refer beneficiaries to a specialized family therapist for further guidance when needed.
The Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Association, Engineer Faisal bin Saif Al-Din Al-Samnoudi, explained that the center achieved a 44% growth rate in 2026 compared to the previous year, with the number of beneficiaries reaching 16,703, compared to 11,573 in 2025 and 9,224 in 2024. The center provided 21,835 social and psychological support sessions, achieving a 62.5% reconciliation rate between families and a 93% beneficiary satisfaction rate.
The cases handled by the center during the first half of 2026 were diverse, with divorce cases topping the list at 18.81%, followed by child visitation cases at 18.56%, then post-traumatic stress disorder at 13.61%, followed by poor financial planning at 12.47%, marital discord at 7.83%, anxiety disorders at 6.53%, alimony at 6.29%, neglect of marital responsibilities at 5.41%, annulment of marriage at 5.26%, and finally, overconsumption and lack of savings at 5.24%. This reflects the variety of family, psychological, social, and financial needs that the center addresses through its specialized services. The center also contributed to reducing the percentage of cases that might reach the courts or end in divorce during the first half of 2026 by 2.5% through the counseling, reconciliation, and support services provided to families.
In terms of the overall classification of family counseling consultations, marital problems ranked first at 36%, followed by personal status issues at 21%, then psychological and behavioral problems at 17%, family problems at 11%, social problems at 8%, educational problems at 5%, and economic problems at 2%. This reflects the wide range of issues and needs addressed by the center's family counseling services.
The demographic distribution of those benefiting from counseling services showed that females constituted the largest percentage at 63.2%, compared to 36.8% for males. Saudis comprised 88.2% of beneficiaries, while non-Saudis made up 11.8%. The 31-45 age group was the most frequent beneficiary at 57.5%, and those with a bachelor's degree were the most common at 51.9%.
In terms of educational qualifications, bachelor's degree holders were the most prevalent group. Al-Samnoudi emphasized that digital transformation is a key path in developing the association's services, enhancing their efficiency, and expanding their reach to families. He noted that Al-Mawaddah has achieved several milestones in this area, including winning third place in the Digital Excellence Award from the Communications and Information Technology Commission for the electronic services provided through the association's website. Additionally, the association, nominated by the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development, won the Arab Family Technological Innovation Award from the League of Arab States, reflecting its ongoing commitment to developing digital solutions and services that strengthen its impact on families.
Al-Samnoudi concluded by stating that the association will continue to develop its digital and smart solutions in line with national trends and contribute to strengthening family stability and quality of life.