Saudi Gazette reports on the problems that ensue when Saudis (the article seems to be restricted to Saudi men) marry while abroad. The piece reports on three studies being undertaken by an NGO.

To me, the issue seem overly complicated by two factors: 1) Saudi government/society seem determined to decide who will marry whom, and 2) Saudi society is unique (all societies are), but in a way that makes it almost incomprehensible to non-Saudis.

I do believe that governments have a legitimate, though extremely limited, role to play in the issue of marriage. Setting standards on minimum ages seems appropriate. I might even go along with counseling about the dangers of consanguineous marriages, perhaps even forbidding them in some cases. But saying that one cannot marry a foreigner, or effectively forbidding it by throwing up complications and paperwork barriers does not strike me as the proper role of government.

Government decree does not directly effect social reactions, of course, and there is strong animus toward foreign-born wives (and husbands) in Saudi society. Nothing but time and experience will resolve that problem, I fear.

Due to its centuries of being largely closed off to the outside world has led Saudi society toward close-mindedness, prejudice, and an overdose of xenophobia. There’s more than a little racism involved, too. This is a social problem that can be exacerbated or fixed through government action; right now, government regulation increases the problems.

With its strict interpretation of Islam, Saudi society does not welcome anything very different. As most of the world is very different, there are inevitable clashes between foreigners and Saudis when it comes to living daily life within a family. At present, the ’solution’ seems to be that the foreigner adopts the Saudi way of doing things (not completely unreasonable, as the saying ‘When in Rome…’ would suggest). But the Saudi way is sometimes contrary to near-universal understandings of basic human rights. How does that get sorted out? I don’t think government regulation has any useful answer here….

Studies under way on Saudis marrying abroad
Muhammad Odhaib

DAMMAM – The Society for Caring for Saudis Abroad (Awassir) is in the process of completing three studies on Saudis marrying abroad. The studies will be submitted to the Ministry of Interior upon completion.

Abdullah Al-Hamoud, the society’s chairman, said the studies focus on problems emanating from marrying foreign women abroad, curtailing the phenomenon of such marriages and handling the difficulties Saudi families face in adapting themselves to the new environment on their return to the Kingdom.

Al-Hamoud said an earlier study conducted by the society showed that there were 200 girls of marriageable age belonging to Saudi families abroad and suggested that those wanting to marry foreign women take them as their wives instead.

He said studies revealed that 40 percent of applications for marrying foreign women were submitted by elderly Saudi men looking for foreign wives below the age of 20.
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