RIYADH: The Shoura Council Monday approved a bill by an absolute majority allowing Saudis to marry foreign women, according to a report carried by the Arabic daily Al-Hayat. The bill was agreed upon, with certain restrictions, after a lengthy and heated debate among the Council members. The draft law allows all Saudis to marry women from the Gulf Cooperation (GCC) states because of the relationships between these countries and their common social characteristics. The bill has adopted a moderate and flexible stance toward the marriage of Saudis to women born to a Saudi mother and foreign father and vice versa. The bill stipulates that the couple's marriage should be approved by the emirate in the region which has to set up a committee to study the applications. It also stipulates that the members should be at Grade 12, representing the ministries of interior, foreign affairs, justice, social affairs and human rights bodies. The committee should submit its recommendation to the Ministry of Interior for final approval within three weeks after it has taken a decision. The draft law also stipulates that the applicants should not have violated any Shariah laws and be free from communicable diseases and drugs. In addition, the difference in age between the partners should not exceed 25 years. A penalty for violation of the law is set at SR100,000, to be deposited in a current account with the Saudi Arabian Monetary Agency (SAMA) in the name of the Ministry of Social Affairs. It also stipulates the marriage contract of a Saudi married to a foreign woman and vice versa should be documented and certified by the authorized courts in the Kingdom after the fulfillment of the conditions. The Saudi chancelleries abroad are authorized to verify marriages taking place overseas.
