For almost a decade now, it has been witnessed that there are changes that many critics feel is taking over the nation of Arab. From change in women’s working condition to their participation in the electoral process, there are quite a few noteworthy progresses that in fact the media is buzzing with. However, there is one very shocking fact, which is creating ruckus amongst the men folks.

A certain section of Saudi women are increasingly marrying foreign nationals. According to the latest figures received from the Interior Ministry, more than 20,000 cross nationality weddings have taken place in the last five years between foreigners and Saudi women.

Taking into account the strict policies and rules of the Arabic society it is rather surprising that such a revolutionary movement has sprung up. It is almost impossible for an Arab woman to get married to an outsider, be it a foreign national or an Arab who is not a member of the Gulf Cooperation Council.

Nevertheless, however rigid are the procedures, there are always certain loose ends. In this case, only a special permission has to be taken from the big shots at the higher end.

Despite the fact that this growing trend is considered repulsive by the patriarchal society, the percentage of cross-national marriages an all time high, where as on the other hand the marriage between Saudi women and men barely touches 13 percent as said by one of the marriage registrars.

Now the question here is, why this sudden offshoot? Reasons could be many. However, the most prominent is that many foreigners find it a very lucrative idea to marry a Saudi woman, as there are many added advantages such as Arab being a rich country it is mostly tax-free; and a no-taxation zone can be achieved only by marrying a citizen of the nation.

While another factor adding up to the fire is the fact that many families who keep traveling abroad are quite liberal in regard to their daughter choosing a foreigner as her husband.

Also fast forwarding few years, the rapid socio-economic progress have lead to the change of the mind-set of the society at large and be more open to the idea of cross-marriages.

Not forgetting another booster, that is the high divorce ratio, due to which it is becoming easier for the divorced woman to get approval from the government in marrying an outsider.

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