Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Justice has introduced a framework allowing courts to review and legalise marriages between Saudi citizens and foreign nationals conducted without approval.
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Under the system, cases involving unpermitted marriages will be handled by Civil Status Courts to stabilise families, resolve legal issues, and document marriages under law.
The Ministry of Justice said the process applies to marriages concluded without authorisation from relevant authorities and aims to regularise documentation through judicial review.
Applications seeking validation of such marriages will be referred to a competent department, which will coordinate with the Ministry of Interior for verification.
If the Ministry of Interior confirms approval by the authorised authority, the case will be forwarded to court for consideration and adjudication.
Where approval is denied, the court will declare the case inadmissible, and the marriage will not be formally recognised under the framework.
The Ministry said the framework is intended to regulate documentation procedures while preventing violations of rules governing marriages between Saudis and non-Saudis.
It added the rules do not affect courts’ authority to hear cases concerning rights arising from marriage under existing laws across the country.
Such matters include alimony, divorce, inheritance, and lineage, which will continue to be addressed through established legal procedures under existing laws and courts.
