Child Support & Spousal Maintenance (Nafaqa)
Written in plain language for general understanding. This is educational content, not legal advice. Based on Saudi royal decrees, regulations, and ministerial decisions.
Saudi National Law
What is this right?
Saudi law requires financial support (nafaqa) for spouses and children:
- Spousal maintenance: The husband must provide his wife with housing, food, clothing, and medical care during the marriage and during the iddah period after divorce.
- Child support: The father must financially support his children until the son becomes self-supporting and until the daughter marries (or indefinitely if she cannot support herself).
- Amount: The court determines nafaqa based on the father's financial ability and the child's needs, considering the family's standard of living.
- Mut'a compensation: A wife who is divorced without cause may receive mut'a (consolation payment) in addition to her mahr and iddah maintenance.
- Enforcement: Courts can order salary deductions, bank account freezes, and travel bans to enforce nafaqa payments.
When does it apply?
- You are a wife whose husband is not providing financial support during marriage or after divorce.
- You are a custodial parent and the other parent is not paying child support.
- You are a father seeking to understand your maintenance obligations.
What should you do?
- File a nafaqa claim through the Family Court (Najiz portal) — the court can issue an urgent temporary order for immediate support.
- Provide evidence of expenses — rent, school fees, medical bills, and daily living costs.
- If the father is not paying court-ordered support, request an enforcement order — the court can garnish wages or impose a travel ban.
What should you NOT do?
- Do not wait too long to file — you can claim back-dated nafaqa, but it is easier to enforce current obligations.
- Do not accept informal verbal promises — get court orders so you have enforcement tools.
- Do not withhold the child from the other parent as leverage for support payments — custody and nafaqa are separate legal matters.
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