Coolred – the American embassy does have a statement (albeit dated and needs revised) on American women married to Saudis… but in this case I do ask how many put credence in governments warnings about marriages whether from the US Government or Saudi Government or anywhere else?

And yes…the airport transformations both to/from Saudi are quite interesting to observe! (smile)

In days past the American Embassy website actually warned American women of this transition when travelling to an Arab husbands country…we never learn though.

It’s nice to hear the perspectives from a Saudil male. The comments made in this post are based on discussions and observations of various foreign women who have married to Saudis. Naturally the post does not mean to imply every Saudi man is as described but it does seem that a large majority of the Saudi men who have chosen to bring a foreign wife to the Kingdom may face many of the issues cited.

Yes; there is indeed pressures when one leaves their family to relocate to a new country with different customs and cultures and I believe it is natural that spouses and families should support the one who has followed another to a new environment.

That’s great that all of your visitors call. In many cases it seems that is not the case.

I hope you will continue to comment and share your perspectives.

what I got that customs are different so you should tell ur husband about that “pressure”

also your husband facing the society pressure because of his marriage. He may try to proof that no different between western or Saudi wife by acting like an oridnery family here in saudi arabia.

finally, all our vistors call before come even we’re a tribal family .

in saudi arabia ” change is faster than any where else ”

thx a lot

Actually, because my husband didn’t grow up in KSA, and I had only been to Canada other than USA, we made a special deal with each other when we got married. We decided that we would not have children for the first year or two until we were sure that we could be happy together in KSA. That way, if anything went wrong, we could end it easier than trying to do so with children.

That said, we never had any major arguments until we HAD children. They were not allowed to go to the international schools in KSA, so we started arguing about where we would live and raise them at school age. It got to be a very intense argument that lasted for years and almost broke up our marriage. (Obviously, we worked it out.) I have seen this problem cause divorce or separation in many cases here (in mixed marriages) and it is very sad. Foreign women really need to understand what it means to marry a Saudi and how it will affect their future and that of their children. When you are young and in love, you just don’t get it.

Welcome to the blog. I would imagine that many women who have no friends and family in KSA or elsewhere in the Arab world may feel pressurized to fit in.

You certainly ask good questions but I don’t think there is necessary a “pat” answer!