Is a misyar marriage recognised in Saudi Arabia?

A misyar marriage — where the wife waives her right to maintenance or housing — is recognised through fatwas and commonly practised, but is not mentioned in the Personal Status Law 2022 (Musawah 2022). The main problem arises when it is not documented: a marriage without registration, including an unregistered misyar, makes it hard for the wife to prove the child's lineage, claim maintenance and obtain residence permission. Every contract must be registered (Article 8). For domestic workers, an undocumented "under the table" or misyar marriage leaves the wife and children with no residence permit, no official lineage and at risk of deportation. This site does not encourage unregistered marriages. See Saudi Arabia.