ABU DHABI Ñ Saudi Arabia has imposed new measures meant to prevent
the entry of foreigners into the kingdom's elite via marriage.
Saudi sources said authorities want to prevent the entry of Western
women into the kingdom, Middle East Newsline reported. They said Saudi princes and students often marry
abroad, which has resulted in tens of thousands of Saudi women being unable
to find a spouse. The most desirable women, the sources said, are those from
English-speaking countries.
Last week, the Saudi Council of Ministers imposed a ban on senior
officials and Saudis working or studying abroad. These include officials
from the Defense Ministry, Foreign Ministry, National Guard, intelligence
and security services and judges and prosecutors.
The measures include a ban on marrying members of undisclosed foreign
nationalities and religions. Those who violate the new orders face dismissal
and imprisonment.
The measure warns that Saudis will not be permitted to marry women from
undesirable backgrounds. They include those "unwanted for personal,
nationality or religious reasons, including those having faiths not
recognized by Islam."
The council also included in the ban Saudis who are not connected to the
government. They are chairmen of Saudi private companies as well as
students.
The council said Saudi men can marry women from the Gulf Cooperation
Council. The GCC is a six-member group comprised of Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman,
Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
