Spinsterhood is a growing problem in Saudi Arabia for many young women who are unable to marry as a result of the extravagant dowries and other costly marriage requirements. Members of the BaniThabit tribe in Namas governorate in Asir province pride themselves in having almost no spinsters. BaniThabit tribesmen offer the families of brides only SR 2 as a dowry as part of a more than 300-year-old tradition. The tribe boasts its dowry custom, which reduces the financial burden of marriage on young people.
The custom has nothing to do with poverty or avarice. The BaniThabit tribe started their dowry custom with the French riyal in the past, and then Saudi riyals. The tribe’s population consists of 10,000 people spread over six villages in Namas governorate. According to Al-Arabiya channel, the tribe doesn’t suffer from a soaring divorce or spinsterhood rates, even though their dowry rate is much less than the customary dowry in Saudi Arabia and Gulf region, and may even be the lowest in the world.