Marriage Requirements & Registration
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 Arabia's Personal Status Law (enacted 2022) codifies marriage rules for the first time in a single statute:
- Minimum age: Both parties must be at least 18 years old. A judge may allow marriage below 18 only with strict conditions and court approval.
- Consent: Both the bride and groom must give their free consent. Forced marriage is prohibited.
- Marriage contract: The marriage must be documented in an official contract registered with the Ministry of Justice.
- Mahr (dowry): The groom must provide a mahr to the bride as agreed. It becomes her personal property.
- Witnesses: The contract requires two male witnesses and a licensed marriage officiant (ma'dhun).
- Medical examination: Both parties must complete a premarital medical screening before the marriage can be registered.
Unregistered marriages are not recognized by Saudi courts, which means you cannot enforce rights related to divorce, custody, or inheritance.
When does it apply?
- You are planning to get married in Saudi Arabia.
- You need to register a marriage that took place abroad.
- You are verifying whether an existing marriage is legally valid.
What should you do?
- Book a licensed marriage officiant through the Ministry of Justice portal or app (Najiz).
- Complete the premarital medical screening at an approved clinic before the ceremony.
- Negotiate the mahr and any conditions you want included in the marriage contract (such as the wife's right to work or study).
- Keep a copy of the registered marriage contract — you will need it for visa applications, birth registration, and any future legal proceedings.
What should you NOT do?
- Do not skip the official registration — an unregistered marriage leaves you without legal protections.
- Do not agree to conditions under pressure — both parties have the right to negotiate the contract terms freely.
- Do not ignore the premarital screening — the marriage cannot be registered without the medical certificate.
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