Women reject a dowry cap

RIYADH: Based on a recent study, spinsterhood in Saudi Arabia has escalated at an alarming rate where the number of unmarried girls reached 4 million this year compared to around 1.5 million in 2010.

Experts and social workers attribute this figure to the high rates of dowry and other marriage-related spending.
A new proposal was recently made by Makkah Gov. Prince Khaled Al-Faisal where a dowry was fixed at SR50,000 for unmarried women and SR30,000 for those divorced.
The proposal, however, sparked varying reactions in the Saudi community where some women were not happy with the decision, saying it will curtain many traditional practices and make men take marriage for granted.
A Saudi woman, who did not want to be identified, said the decision will make men think of marriage as something not to be taken seriously. "A high dowry makes a man work to get it and thus he will never think of replacing his wife," she said.
Nada M, a Saudi citizen, said there should have been a proposal of increasing job prospects for the youth and thereby improving citizens' lifestyle, not decreasing the dowry.
Another Saudi woman said that some families don't ask for a dowry because they want to know what the groom thinks and how much he can pay in a way that will give time for the family to make a decision, either to accept or reject him.
Fahd A., a Saudi man, welcomed the governor's proposal, saying this shows the authorities are concerned about a situation where marriage expenses are too high, making the spinsterhood rate in the community reach such unbelievable numbers.