Social Affairs Minister Yousuf Al-Othaimeen said Saudis marrying foreigners has not reached the level of a common phenomenon. He urged Saudi men to marry their women folk because of cultural and traditional bonds.
“Although a number of Saudis have married foreign women according to official statistics, the matter has not become a phenomenon among Saudis,” the minister said while addressing a forum in Madinah.
Al-Othaimeen urged Saudi charitable societies that support young men and women to get married to give priority to marriage guidance in their programs. “You should also try to help couples sort out their problems,” he added.
He said the government has given utmost importance to the care of families and children. “Our ministry has given top priority to family guidance and set up a special department for this purpose. It is manned by specialists and academics,” he said.
The ministry has also encouraged charitable societies across the Kingdom to set up special units for family guidance and settling their disputes. There are at least 20 charities that take care of family issues. “They spend more than SR 21 million annually in family aid,” he added.
Minister: Saudi-expat marriage ‘uncommon’
