Maintenance After Divorce in Saudi Arabia: Iddah and Child Support Under the Personal Status Law

When a divorced wife is entitled to maintenance in Saudi Arabia, revocable versus irrevocable divorce, child support, and the two-year limit on past maintenance claims, under the 2022 Personal Status Law.

The governing law

Maintenance (nafaqah) in Saudi Arabia is governed by the Personal Status Law issued by Royal Decree No. M/73 of 2022. It is assessed by the circumstances of the person supported and the means of the person paying (Article 46).

During the iddah

• Revocable divorce: the wife is entitled to maintenance until the iddah ends (Article 53(1)).
• Irrevocable divorce: no maintenance, unless she is pregnant, in which case it is due until she gives birth (Article 53(2)).

Children

The father alone supports children without means if he is able (Article 58(1)): a son until his peers can earn a living, a daughter until she marries (Article 58(2)). If the father is absent or unable, the mother pays if she can (Article 59).

Past maintenance

A wife's claim for maintenance is not heard for more than two years before the filing date (Article 52(2)). An unregistered divorce the wife did not know of entitles her to compensation of at least minimum maintenance until she learns of it (Article 91).

Filing

Claims are filed on Najiz before the personal status court. LexArab can help you work out the amount and draft the claim. General information, not legal advice; the Arabic text of the law governs.