As part of the kingdom's legal reforms, Saudi Arabia approved a law on personal status. Divorce, marriage, and child custody are all governed by the law.

Mohammed bin Salman, Saudi Crown Prince, said the new law is based on the Islamic Sharia code and its objectives, it is in line with international legal practices, and it adapts to modern lifestyles.

- The Prince Mohammed said, "It will contribute to the preservation of the family and its stability, as the family is the center of society." As a result of this law, the status of families and children will improve, and the judicial powers of judges will be refined to limit variances in judicial rulings in this regard.

Furthermore, the Crown Prince stated that the new personal law represents a major step forward in efforts to protect human rights and empower women.

Under the Personal Status Law, both the fiancé and the fiancée have the right to cancel the engagement, and everything the fiancé presents to the fiancée during the sermon period is regarded as a gift unless the fiancé declares that what he has offered is considered a dowry or if he is known to be one.

By law, if the fiancé or fiancée changes the engagement for reasons that are within his control, he has no right to take the gift he gave and the other party may recover from him what they gave, if it exists, and only to the same extent as its value on the day it was received, unless the gift is one that is consumed by nature, and in all cases, if the engagement ends with death, or for reasons outside either party's control, no gifts shall be returned.

- The Personal Status Law also states, "If the fiancé or the fiancée withdraws the marriage contract or dies before it is concluded, and the fiancé gave his fiancée money as dowry before the contract, the fiancé or his heirs have the right to take back what was delivered in particular, if it exists, and only up to the same or its value.

The law included a number of general provisions, including the prohibition on registering marriages before the spouses have reached the age of 18, and the court may register a marriage for a person who has not reached that age, male or female, if he is an adult following verification of his interest in marriage according to regulating procedures.

- The new law, whose provisions have yet to be announced, will take effect 90 days after its publication in the Official Gazette of the kingdom.

SOURCE : SAUDI EXPATRIATES