What is the new marriage law in Saudi Arabia, and what changes for couples and families?
The Saudi Arabia new marriage law is the Personal Status Law, issued by Royal Decree No. M/73 of 1443 AH and published in March 2022. It came into force 90 days after publication, and its implementing regulations were published in February 2025. It is “new” because it codified family rules that judges used to apply from Sharia sources without one written text. It is not a separate law issued in 2026.
For marriage, the main points are a minimum age of 18 unless the court permits otherwise, the woman’s consent, the guardian’s role, the dowry, maintenance and documentation. The same law also covers divorce, khula, annulment, custody and inheritance. This guide explains the Saudi Arabia new marriage law in plain terms and shows how it works in practice.
Planning a marriage, or facing a family dispute, and not sure how the new rules apply to you? You can send a short summary on WhatsApp and the Al-Safwa Law Firm team will review the facts and the documents in confidence before you take any step.
Table of Contents
Saudi Arabia new marriage law at a glance
| Topic | What the law says | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Marriage age | A marriage contract for anyone under 18 is not documented unless the court permits it | Family wishes alone are not enough |
| Woman’s consent | Both spouses must consent, and a guardian cannot marry a woman off without her consent | The contract should show her consent |
| Guardian | The guardian’s offer is a condition of the contract, and the court steps in if he prevents a suitable marriage or cannot attend | There is a legal path if a guardian refuses without reason |
| Dowry | The dowry belongs to the wife | She may delay moving in until the prompt dowry is received and a suitable home is ready |
| Maintenance | Food, clothing, housing and basic needs are owed, even if the wife is wealthy | Temporary maintenance can be ordered during a case |
| Divorce | It must be documented within 15 days, and several talaq in one sitting count as one | Undocumented divorce can lead to compensation |
| Custody | A child of 15 can choose which parent to live with, and custody generally ends at 18 | Clearer rules for post-separation arrangements |
What is the Saudi Arabia new marriage law?
People searching for Saudi Arabia marriage laws are usually looking at one text: the Personal Status Law and its regulations. Before it, rulings on marriage, divorce, custody and maintenance depended largely on the judge’s reading of Sharia sources. The Saudi Arabia new marriage law puts those rules in a written code, which makes the outcome of a case easier to predict and easier to document.
The Saudi Arabia new marriage law is not retroactive by default. Whether it applies to an older event depends on the date of the event, the stage of the case and the legal position involved. If your marriage or dispute began before the law took effect, ask a lawyer how it is handled in your case instead of assuming.
Marriage age under the Saudi Arabia new marriage law
The starting rule is that a marriage contract for a person under 18 is not documented. The exception is permission from the court, which checks that the marriage serves the person’s interest and that he or she has reached maturity. The 2025 regulations set the conditions and procedure for requesting that permission. The key point is that the exception depends on a court decision, not on the family’s wish.
The Ministry of Justice’s electronic marriage contract service reflects this. It states that the groom, bride, guardian and witnesses must be over 18 unless an early-marriage approval from the competent court is attached.
Consent and the guardian’s role
Under the Saudi Arabia new marriage law, a guardian, including the father, cannot marry a woman off without her consent, and the contract must contain what shows her consent. The guardian’s offer is a condition for a valid contract.
If the guardian refuses to let a woman marry a suitable man she has accepted, the court may marry her itself, transfer the guardianship to someone else, or authorise a licensed person to conduct the contract. The court also steps in when the guardian cannot attend or cannot be notified. A woman cannot simply marry “without a guardian”; the court path exists for these cases.
Dowry and the wife’s financial rights
- The dowry is the wife’s own property, and she cannot be forced to hand it over or spend it.
- She may refuse to move to the marital home until she receives the prompt dowry and the husband prepares a suitable home, and she keeps her right to maintenance in the meantime.
- If she agrees to move in before receiving the prompt dowry, it stays a debt owed by the husband and she can claim it later.
- If the marriage ends before consummation, she is entitled to half of the agreed dowry. If no dowry was named, she is entitled to a consolatory gift (mut’a) of no more than half of the customary dowry.
- The husband must maintain his wife even if she is wealthy.
Maintenance rules
Maintenance covers food, clothing, housing and basic needs. It is set according to the means of the person who pays and the situation of the person who receives. The court can order temporary maintenance while a case is pending. Maintenance can be raised or lowered when circumstances change, but a request to change it is generally not heard within a year of the judgment, except in exceptional circumstances.
A son’s maintenance continues until he reaches the age at which his peers are able to earn a living (Article 58). A daughter’s maintenance continues until she marries.
How to register a marriage in Saudi Arabia
Under the Saudi Arabia new marriage law, a marriage is documented through the Ministry of Justice platform. The electronic “Create Marriage Contract” service on Najiz works like this:
- Log in to Najiz with national single sign-on.
- Open All Electronic Services, choose the Social Affairs package and select “Create Marriage Contract”.
- Enter the details of the bride, the groom, the guardian, the medical examination, the dowry, the conditions, the place and the witnesses, and attach the documents.
- Submit the application and note the application number sent by SMS.
- All parties confirm the application by SMS after it is reviewed.
- Choose a marriage registrar from the Marriage Registrars’ Directory and give the registrar the application number for approval.
- After approval the marriage contract certificate is issued and all parties are notified.
The Ministry page lists these items, depending on the case: the medical examination (mandatory for Saudi nationals only), the divorce certificate number for a previously divorced bride, the heirs document for a widow, early-marriage court approval for anyone under 18, proof of any transfer of guardianship, and a valid power of attorney for an agent. Documents issued abroad must be certified by the Saudi Ministry of Justice. A separate Najiz service certifies a paper contract issued by a registrar. Requirements can change, so check the service page before you apply.
Write the important conditions into the contract
The law allows annulment of a marriage for breach of a written condition in the contract. That makes the text of the contract important. Conditions on housing, work, studies or other matters that matter to you should be written clearly in the contract, not left to a verbal promise. If you are considering a misyar marriage, read our guide on misyar marriage in Saudi Arabia before you sign.
Divorce, khula and annulment under the new rules
The Saudi Arabia new marriage law also sets the rules for ending a marriage:
- Talaq. The law defines talaq as ending the marriage by the husband’s will with words that show it. A talaq tied to a number, or repeated in one sitting, counts as one talaq only. The husband must document it with the competent authority within 15 days of the separation. If he does not, and the wife did not know, she is entitled to compensation of not less than the minimum amount of maintenance from the date of the talaq until she learned of it, and she can still bring an action to prove the talaq. See our guide on proving divorce in Saudi Arabia.
- Khula. A separation requested by the wife and agreed by the husband for consideration. It is treated as annulment, and the consideration cannot waive the children’s rights or custody. Our guide to the khula procedure in Saudi Arabia explains the Najiz steps, and our guide on how to remarry after khula covers a return.
- Annulment. The court may annul a marriage in listed cases, such as breach of a written condition, certain situations before consummation, discord or refusal of marital relations, and absence of the husband after a warning and a grace period.
- Reconciliation and arbitration. Family claims are referred to the reconciliation centre first. Its operating rules set the first session within 14 days for claims such as maintenance and custody, and within 21 days for dissolution, khula and dowry claims. If discord continues and reconciliation fails, each spouse names a mediator from the family, or the court appoints two, for up to 60 days (Article 109).
Custody, visits and travel
The law separates custody, which is daily care and upbringing, from guardianship, which can concern the person or the property. A custodian must have full capacity, be able to care for the child and be free of serious contagious disease. A child under two stays with the mother even if she marries a man unrelated to the child. At 15 the child may choose which parent to live with unless his or her interest requires otherwise, and custody generally ends at 18, or continues if the child is mentally disabled or seriously ill.
A mother who leaves the marital home does not automatically lose custody. The non-custodial parent may visit the child, host the child and take the child out according to the parents’ agreement, and the court decides if they disagree. A parent who has custody cannot take the child outside the Kingdom for more than 90 days a year without the other parent’s approval, and a custodian who is not a parent is limited to 30 days. For help with a custody case, see our custody lawyer in Jeddah page.
Wills and inheritance
The law has its own part on estates, wills and inheritance. A will is effective up to one third of the estate as a general rule, and there is no will for an heir unless the other heirs approve it after the death. The law does not change the Sharia shares of heirs. It brings the rules together in one text.
When to ask a lawyer
For anyone dealing with Saudi Arabia marriage laws in a real case, get advice early when there is a dispute about guardianship or refusal, the validity of a marriage contract, annulment instead of divorce, maintenance, custody, visits or travel with a child, enforcement of a judgment, or a will. Our personal status lawyer in Jeddah team handles these matters, and our family lawyer page lists the family services we provide.
Frequently Asked Questions about Saudi Arabia new marriage law
What is the Saudi Arabia new marriage law?
It is the Personal Status Law, issued by Royal Decree No. M/73 of 1443 AH and published in March 2022, with implementing regulations published in February 2025. It sets rules for marriage, divorce, custody, maintenance and inheritance.
What is the minimum marriage age in Saudi Arabia?
18. A marriage of someone under 18 is not documented unless the court gives permission after checking the person’s interest and maturity.
Can a woman marry in Saudi Arabia without a guardian?
The guardian’s offer is a condition of the contract. If a guardian refuses without good reason, or cannot attend or be notified, the court can marry her, transfer the guardianship or authorise someone to conduct the contract.
Does the Saudi Arabia new marriage law apply to earlier marriages?
It cannot be answered with a blanket yes or no. It took effect 90 days after publication, and its application to an earlier event depends on the date, the stage of the case and the legal position involved.
How do I register a marriage in Saudi Arabia?
Through the Najiz “Create Marriage Contract” service and a licensed marriage registrar. The parties confirm by SMS, the registrar approves, and the certificate is issued.
How soon must a divorce be documented?
The husband must document it within 15 days of the separation. If he does not and the wife did not know, she may be entitled to compensation and can still bring an action to prove the divorce.
Do three talaq in one sitting count as three?
No. A talaq tied to a number or repeated in one sitting counts as one talaq only.
Did the new law change inheritance shares?
No. The Sharia shares are not changed. The law brings the rules on estates, wills and inheritance together in a single text.
This guide covered the Saudi Arabia new marriage law and the wider Saudi Arabia marriage laws it brings together: the age rule, consent and guardianship, dowry and maintenance, registration, divorce documentation, khula, custody and wills. If you have a real situation, contact us through the WhatsApp button at the bottom of the screen and bring your marriage contract and any court documents.
Sources:
- Personal Status Law (Arabic) – Bureau of Experts at the Council of Ministers
- Create Marriage Contract – Ministry of Justice
- Certify Marriage Contract – Ministry of Justice
A legal advisor holding a Bachelor’s degree in Law from the prestigious Cairo University. He possesses extensive experience spanning over 25 years in criminal, civil, and family law, during which he has achieved notable accomplishments that have solidified his reputation as a valuable asset to any legal team
