The Implementing Regulation of the Personal Status Law was issued by Royal Order No. 59641 dated 17/8/1446H, published on 22/8/1446H, and is in force. Its 41 articles detail the Law on marriage under eighteen, marriage by remote means, the absent guardian and adhl (a guardian blocking marriage), dowry, housing for a child in custody, annulment, custody and visitation. Here is a summary with article numbers, from the Ministry of Justice legal portal.
Reviewed by: Raghad Mamdouh Al-KhamshiLegal Affairs Manager at USUS Law FirmLast updated:
Summary table
| Topic | Rule | Article |
|---|---|---|
| Marriage under 18 | Court permission: request by the person, guardian or mother; the person's explicit consent in court; a medical report plus psychological and social reports | 3 |
| Remote marriage | Offer and acceptance by technical means count as one session | 5 |
| Adhl | No suitor needed to prove it; a relative or the Ministry of Human Resources may file; it extends to the guardian's other wards | 11–15 |
| Dowry | The dowry written in the contract is the agreed dowry; the fair dowry follows female relatives on both sides | 17–18 |
| Child housing | No housing maintenance if the custodian or child lives in owned or allocated housing, or suitable housing is provided | 19–20 |
| Child maintenance | A son is not able to earn before 18, provided his studies continue normally | 24 |
| Annulment | The wife may seek annulment if she fears not fulfilling marital rights and the husband refuses divorce or khul', returning the dowry | 28 |
| Custody | A child under two stays with the mother even if she remarries a man unrelated to the child | 33 |
| Custody document | Online requests for custody, visitation or child maintenance produce a document that becomes enforceable once approved by the court | 38 |
Arbitrators in marital discord
If arbitrators cannot reconcile the spouses they recommend separation without compensation if the husband caused it all, against the full dowry received if the wife caused it all, against compensation in proportion to each side's share, or against half the dowry if the cause is unknown, taking the length of the marriage into account (Article 30).
The custodian's powers
The custodian handles the child's affairs with public and private bodies, including the child's digital platforms, receives benefits paid to the child, and keeps the child's documents (Article 32).
Frequently asked questions
When was the regulation issued?
By Royal Order No. 59641 dated 17/8/1446H, published on 22/8/1446H.
Can someone under 18 marry in Saudi Arabia?
Only with court permission and the conditions in Article 3: a request by the person, guardian or mother, explicit consent in court, and medical, psychological and social reports.
Is the online custody document enforceable?
Yes, once approved by the court (Article 38).
Usus Law Firm handles family and personal status cases. See our family lawyer in Riyadh and Tabuk office.
Legal review: the Usus Law Firm team
A select team of lawyers and legal advisers licensed by the Saudi Ministry of Justice, working from Riyadh and Tabuk, with experience before the general, commercial, labor, criminal, personal status and administrative courts. Every article is reviewed before publication and updated when laws or regulations change.
Last reviewed: 25 October 2026
This article is general legal information and is not a substitute for advice on your specific case. Court proceedings in Saudi Arabia are in Arabic; the official Arabic text of each law prevails.
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