How many wifes can you have in Saudi Arabia?
Asked by: Shanel Bernier | Last update: February 10, 2026Score: 4.8/5 (66 votes)
In Saudi Arabia, a Muslim man can legally have up to four wives, as permitted by Islamic Sharia law, but he must treat them all equally and provide for them financially. While permissible, polygamy is becoming less common, often practiced by the wealthy, and requires the man to have the means to support multiple families, making fairness a key, difficult requirement.
Can you marry multiple wives in Saudi Arabia?
Polygamy. Polygamy is legal in Saudi Arabia, whereby a man may have up to four wives. However, a man is only allowed to take multiple wives if he can meet certain conditions under shari'a law. For example, he must have the financial capacity to afford another marriage and provide for another wife and her family.
How many wives does Saudi Arabia have?
* Since Moslem law permits a man to divorce his wife by saying three times “I renounce thee” and the Koran provides that a man shall have only four wives at a time, Saud presumably keeps no more than the permitted number, divorcing one of them whenever he wants a change.
Can Muslims have 7 wives?
In societies that practice polygamy, the specific type is polygyny, which is having more than one wife (polyandrous unions, of having more than one husband, are much less common). Muslim societies allow for up to four wives, but not without specific rules and regulations.
What country allows multiple wives?
Polygamy (specifically polygyny, one man with multiple wives) is legal and practiced in many countries, primarily in the Middle East, Africa, and parts of Asia, often under Islamic or customary law, including Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar, Pakistan, Nigeria, Afghanistan, Malaysia, and Indonesia (with regional/religious exceptions). While often legal under religious/customary laws (like Sharia), civil law may restrict it or allow recognition of foreign polygamous marriages, creating complex situations in countries like India, Singapore, and some African nations where it's common but not fully civil-recognized.
How Many Wives Can You Have In Saudi Arabia? - Middle East Explorers
How many wives can a man have in Qatar?
Polygamy. In Qatar, a Muslim man is allowed up to 4 wives at once. Qatari law requires a man to treat his wives equally.
Does America allow multiple wives?
No, polygamy (having multiple spouses simultaneously) is illegal in all 50 U.S. states and territories, making polygamous marriages legally unrecognized, though some individuals practice it discreetly, often in fundamentalist religious groups like certain Mormon fundamentalist sects, and the law rarely prosecutes consensual adult polygamy unless other crimes like abuse are involved, with Utah even reducing it to an infraction.
Can I kiss my wife private parts in Islam?
In Islam, there are differing scholarly opinions on kissing private parts (oral sex) between spouses, with some viewing it as permissible foreplay as long as impurities aren't swallowed, while others discourage or forbid it, citing concerns about mouth usage for sacred remembrance of Allah and the impurity of genital fluids, emphasizing avoidance to maintain spiritual purity despite a lack of explicit prohibition in Quran/Sunnah. Most agree it's within marital intimacy but recommend avoiding it if it feels spiritually unclean or involves consuming impurities (like semen/vaginal fluids), making it a matter of personal discretion and piety within the marriage.
Can a father marry his daughter in Islam?
The prohibition of marriage between father and daughter in the context of Islamic law is one of the strict prohibitions based on the evidence of the Qur'an and Hadith.
Can a woman marry two husbands in Islam?
Marriage by a woman to multiple husbands (polyandry) is haram (forbidden). Contemporary views on the practice vary. Some think it is no longer socially useful and should be banned (Rasha Dewedar). Some hold that it should be allowed only in cases of necessity (Muḥammad ʿAbduh).
Can I kiss my wife in public in Saudi?
Public displays of affection (PDA) are considered inappropriate and can be seen as disrespectful to local customs. Acts such as hugging, kissing, or holding hands are typically reserved for private spaces, even among married couples.
Who is the richest family in Saudi Arabia?
Saudi Arabia is ruled by the Ibn Saud family. The King is advised by his ministers, many of whom are also members of the Ibn Saud family. In fact the family has over 4,000 members. The estimated net worth of the House of Saud, founded by Ibn Saud, is around $1.4 trillion, making them the wealthiest family in the world.
How many wives can a man have in Dubai?
Polygamy is allowed as per the UAE's law. A Muslim male may have four wives, provided he offers equal sustenance and equal treatment to all. Here are the key legal requirements for Muslim marriages: Marriage contract needs to be registered in a Sharia court in the UAE.
Which Saudi king had 30 wives?
King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz of Saudi Arabia (reigned 2005–2015) is the Saudi king most frequently associated with having around 30 wives, fathering many children and forming strategic alliances through marriage, though his father, King Abdulaziz (founder of modern Saudi Arabia), also had numerous wives (around 22) and over 100 children, reflecting royal traditions of marrying into powerful tribes.
Can a wife say no to her husband in Islam?
Yes, a wife can say no to her husband in Islam, but it's generally for specific, valid reasons like illness, menstruation, exhaustion, or if the husband is mistreating her; however, refusing intimacy without a legitimate reason is discouraged and can lead to divine anger, though mutual consent and affection are paramount in Islamic marriage. While the husband has rights, so does the wife, and marriage is built on mutual care, respect, and fulfilling obligations within permissible bounds.
Can a woman go out alone in Saudi Arabia?
Yes, women can go out alone in Saudi Arabia, with significant legal reforms allowing them to travel, drive, work, and visit public places independently, though cultural norms still vary, and modest dress (covering shoulders and knees, though the abaya/headscarf are no longer mandatory) is recommended for respect, notes USA Today, CNN, and My Life's a Movie. While it's generally safe and welcoming for solo female tourists, it's wise to be aware of surroundings, use ride-sharing apps like Uber, and respect local customs, especially regarding interactions and dressing modestly.
What is the 7 7 7 rule in Islam?
The "7-7-7 rule in Islam" primarily refers to an Islamic parenting guideline, often attributed to traditions (Hadith) or teachings from Imam Ali, dividing a child's upbringing into three seven-year stages: play (0-7 years), teach (7-14 years), and befriend/advise (14-21 years), focusing on love, discipline, and friendship respectively, though other variations exist, like 7 minutes daily connection. The number 7 also holds general significance in Islam (7 heavens, 7 circuits around Kaaba in Hajj).
Can we marry a mother in Islam?
You cannot marry your mother, grandmother, daughter, granddaughter, sister, niece, great-niece, aunts, or great-aunts. You also cannot marry someone who is also related to you through such relatives. For example, you cannot marry your great granddaughter.
What is not allowed between husband and wife in Islam?
The Prophet صلَّى الله عليه وسلَّم says: “There should be neither harming nor reciprocating harm” (2). He says also: “Do everything except sexual intercourse” (3). This hadith means that both the husband and his wife can get pleasure from each other except the penetration in the anus and penetration during menses.
Can husbands lick wife in Islam?
Yes, it is permissible for Muslims to perform acts of oral sex with their spouses. Licking or sucking the spouse's sexual organs are permissible, as long as it gives a person sexual satisfaction which will keep him/her away from Haram acts or starring at non-Mahram men/women.
Can I kiss my wife's breast in Islam?
Even if he sucks on her nipples, this comes under the heading of the intimacy that is permissible, and it cannot be said that the milk has any effect on him , because if an adult breastfeeds, it does not have any effect of making him a mahram.
Can I kiss my wife's buttocks in Islam?
In Islam, kissing the buttocks of your wife is generally considered permissible (halal) as foreplay or intimacy, as long as it doesn't lead to anal penetration, which is strictly forbidden (haram) as it's considered harmful and goes against Islamic teachings; scholars permit enjoying the area between the buttocks without penetration, emphasizing the distinction between permissible foreplay and forbidden intercourse.
What is the 2 2 2 rule for wife?
The 2-2-2 rule for a wife (or any partner) is a relationship guideline to keep the connection strong by scheduling regular, dedicated time together: every 2 weeks go on a date night, every 2 months take a weekend getaway, and every 2 years go on a week-long vacation, preventing couples from growing apart amidst daily life's busyness. It's a framework to prioritize intentional connection, communication, and fun without the pressure of grand gestures.
Are sister wives legal?
No, polygamy (multiple legal spouses) is illegal in all U.S. states, but people can live in "sister wife" arrangements, which are spiritual unions not recognized by law, though cohabitation with multiple partners can be prosecuted under bigamy laws in some places like Utah, which recently reduced penalties. The reality show "Sister Wives" highlights this, as the family only had one legal marriage, but faced legal challenges over their cohabitation, leading to court cases that struck down parts of Utah's bigamy law.
What countries are most polygamous?
Africa. Polygamy is more widespread in Africa than in any other continent, being most common in a region known as the "polygamy belt" in West Africa and Central Africa, with the countries estimated to have the highest polygamy prevalence in the world being Burkina Faso, Mali, Gambia, Niger and Nigeria.