New clause on Saudi marriage contracts after decree allowing women to drive

30 September, Kingdom Of Saudi Arabia Marriage contracts in Saudi Arabia are expected to see an additional line included after women in the kingdom were granted the right to drive. The section including conditions set by Saudi wives usually included three lines. Among the most popular conditions set included the provision of her own independent house, completing one’s education and not preventing her from working if she chose to. With King Salman’s decree granting driving licenses for women in Saudi Arabia, a new condition of driving and owning a car is expected to be included as the fourth prominent provision in marriage contracts starting this week. Women in Saudi Arabia will be allowed to drive their cars beginning of June next year. One image of a marriage contract including the condition that a husband respects a wife’s decision to drive has been circulating in Saudi Arabia this weekend. For his part, President of the General Court of Buraidah Sheikh Ibrahim El-Hesni told Al Arabiya that the condition of allowing women to drive a car should be treated as equal to other traditional conditions like an independent house, completing her education or work and will be applicable to all marriage contracts moving forward. “As long as the senior scholars' authority has decided that women are permitted to drive a car, the condition of driving in the contract is correct, if the husband agrees to it. I not, then contract the contract would be nullified,” El-Hesni said. Conditions in marriage The condition of completing one’s education being included in marriage contracts came after a series of reluctance when schools first started accepting girls established in Saudi Arabia 50 years ago, where the education of women faced a major challenge until it was imposed by a government decision. Since then, the education clause began as a common inclusion in marriage contracts until today. The clause allowing a wife to work was also added as some opposed women working for several reasons. Families began adding the clause to ensure husbands respect women’s right to work. Source: Al Arabiya English Published by Sahifa SM