A lot of expat women face real challenges to get married with men from their countries, because they live away from their home, relatives and society. They would also rather not get married to Saudis as they hope to go back home one day and settle in their own country.

However, many expat women, especially from Arab countries, who live and work in the Kingdom have financial difficulties which force them into accepting Saudi husbands in the long term. But most of the prospective grooms are way past marriageable age and are looking for second or even third wives.

According to a Ministry of Justice report, the Makkah region recorded 5,229 marriages between expat women and Saudis in 2012. The Eastern Province recorded 1,749 cases, while the number of marriages recorded in the Riyadh region was 154.

Yemeni women topped the list of expat women who married Saudis, the report said. The recent civil war in Syria has caused anxiety among many Syrian expat women about marrying Syrians back home, as they may not be able to return home for quite some time. However, many Syrian families in the Kingdom have no relatives to build social ties which would help them settle down here.

Lama Rushdi, an Egyptian woman living in Jeddah, said: “I wouldn’t marry a Saudi. I prefer to go back to Cairo with my family when my father decides to leave the Kingdom. If I get married to a Saudi, I might have Saudi sons and will be forced to stay with them in the Kingdom.”