Dating and Marriage Etiquette

Marriages are typically arranged, but an increasing number of young men and women in urban areas are given the opportunity to choose their partners. In Saudi Arabia, "dating" generally entails getting to know someone with the goal of marrying them. Men and women rarely display open affection in public, and many couples may not be allowed to see each other alone. As a result, Saudi couples typically meet in public places that are neutral or online. Cell phones and the internet have enabled young people to interact in secret while remaining publicly separated.

A traditional Saudi Arabian wedding is a Muslim ceremony in which the bride and groom's families negotiate a marriage contract. Men have traditionally paid dowries to their brides, who use a portion of it to establish their new household. Following the wedding ceremony, men and women have separate celebrations. Despite the fact that Muslim law allows a man to have up to four wives, most Saudi men only have one. To have another wife, a man must first obtain the consent of his wife or wives and make equal provision for each.