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)
The 2022 Personal Status Law codifies divorce procedures that were previously at judges' discretion — a historic change for Saudi Arabia:Talaq (husband-initiated): The husband may pronounce divorce, b...
Child Custody (Hadana) Rules
The 2022 Personal Status Law reformed custody rules that were previously among the most inconsistent in the Gulf — different judges applied wildly different age cutoffs. The new law establishes a unif...
Child Support & Spousal Maintenance (Nafaqa)
The Personal Status Law codifies nafaqa (maintenance) obligations that were previously left to individual judges' calculations:Spousal maintenance: The husband must provide housing, food, clothing, an...
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...