Family Law
Marriage, divorce, custody, inheritance, domestic violence, and women's legal capacity reforms under Saudi Arabia's 2022 Personal Status Law.
Covered in this guide:
Saudi family law is now codified under the Personal Status Law (Royal Decree No. M/73 of 2022) — the country's first written family code. Marriage needs both parties' consent, a mahr, two witnesses, and registration through Najiz; minimum age is 18 and premarital medical screening is mandatory. Divorce runs through talaq, khul', or judicial dissolution. Custody follows the best-interests-of-the-child standard, while inheritance still uses Sharia shares. The Protection from Abuse Law (Royal Decree No. M/52 of 2013) covers domestic violence. Women no longer need a male guardian to travel, work, or live independently.
Key Laws
Personal Status Law
Royal Decree No. M/73 of 2022
Saudi Arabia's first codified family law — marriage, divorce, custody, inheritance
Protection from Abuse Law
Royal Decree No. M/52 of 2013
Domestic violence criminalisation, restraining orders, and shelters
Child Protection Law
Royal Decree No. M/14 of 2014
Protection of children from abuse, neglect, and exploitation
Civil Status Law
Royal Decree No. M/7 of 1986
Birth, marriage, and death registration
Marriage Requirements & Registration
The Personal Status Law (2022) codifies marriage requirements that were previously left to individual judges' discretion:Minimum age: Both parties must be at least 18 years old. A judge may allow marr...
Divorce Rights (Talaq, Khul', Judicial)
If you wish to end your marriage, Saudi law provides several legal pathways: talaq (husband-initiated divorce), khul' (wife-initiated divorce with return of mahr), and judicial divorce (faskh). Each h...
Child Custody (Hadana) Rules
The 2022 Personal Status Law reformed custody rules that were previously among the most inconsistent in the Gulf. The 2025 Implementing Regulations (gazetted 21 February 2025) close the remaining ambi...
Child Support & Spousal Maintenance (Nafaqa)
If your husband or ex-husband has stopped paying nafaqa (maintenance), Saudi law allows you to file an urgent claim through the Najiz portal. Courts can issue interim orders to secure payment while th...
Inheritance Rights (Sharia-based Succession)
Inheritance in Saudi Arabia follows Sharia-based rules now codified in the Personal Status Law — meaning the shares are fixed by religious law and cannot be overridden by a will:Fixed shares (fard): T...
Domestic Violence Protections
Saudi Arabia's Protection from Abuse Law (2013) was a landmark — the Kingdom's first statute criminalising domestic violence. Enforcement has been strengthened under Vision 2030:Definition: Abuse incl...
Women's Legal Capacity Reforms
Saudi Arabia's guardianship reforms since 2017 represent the most dramatic expansion of women's legal rights in the Gulf — dismantling restrictions that had no equivalent in other Gulf states:Driving...
Birth Registration & Nationality
Saudi Arabia's nationality law follows strict patrilineal descent — meaning nationality passes primarily through the father. This is a critical distinction for mixed-nationality families:Registration...