If there was one adjective that could describe dating in Saudi Arabia , it would be the word 'discreet'. Dating is not really something people talk about in Saudi Arabia. This doesn't mean that it doesn't exist - but you will most definitely find it more challenging than back home. Technically, Saudis do not dateβat least, not in the open. The traditional approach to families is quite straightforward: once someone is ready to get married, their parents match them with an appropriate candidate.
Naturally, how strict these formalities are observed depends on the particular family. In general, however, dating is basically illegal in the country. Two people of the opposite sex who are not related and not married mustn't spend time together alone. As you can imagine, this makes meeting people and getting to know them quite complicated. Read also Read also Getting married in Saudi Arabia. Despite the complications described above, there are still options for meeting people and dating in the country.
One of the safest ways to meet people in Saudi Arabia is online. Popular dating apps like Tinder, Bumble, and others are all available in the country.
While getting to know people online is definitely convenient, you should always exercise due caution and be very careful about meeting people in person - as, technically, you would be breaking the law. You should also avoid sharing personal information online like your address, where you work, etc. When meeting someone for the first time, make sure to do this in a public place and let your friends know where you are going and with who.
To meet foreigners in your city, you can join expat groups and clubs and also socialize within your compound. In fact, this may be the easiest way around Saudi Arabia's strict rules, as expat compounds are generally not affected by them. This means that you will be able to hang out in the open and spend time together as you would back home.
