Gifts in Saudi Arabia

Gifts in Saudi Arabia, are gifts given to a person or group of people without expectation of return, on various social and cultural occasions. It serves as a means of expressing affection, strengthening social bonds, and commemorating shared memories, and human connection within Saudi society.

Practices of giving gifts and celebrating them stem from the Arab and Islamic culture in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, where gifts are seen as a means to spread love, affection, and joy among those exchanging gifts. In the Hadith, the Prophet Muhammad 'peace be upon him' said: "Exchange gifts, you will love one another."

Gift regulations in Saudi Arabia

Saudi society members exchange gifts widely, and some of these gifts fall under certain regulations. The Personal Status Law issued in 2022 states that all gifts given by the fiancé or fiancée during the engagement period are considered gifts unless the fiancé expressly states that it is a dowry or it is customarily regarded as such.

To avoid any confusion regarding what is exchanged between the two parties, the law states that if either the fiancé or fiancée withdraws from the engagement for a reason related to them, they have no right to reclaim the gift they provided. The other party can reclaim what they gave if it still exists, otherwise, its equivalent or its value on the day it was received, unless the gift is something that is consumed by its nature. In all cases, if the engagement ends due to death or a reason beyond the control of either party, no gifts are reclaimed.

Gifts in state institutions

Despite the widespread practice of gift-giving in Saudi society in both formal and informal contexts, some government entities set conditions for receiving gifts during visits and official occasions. The Shura Council rules define a gift as anything presented to a member or official as a courtesy, regardless of its material or moral value, and have set twelve rules for regulating the acceptance of gifts by members and officials of the council.

In government contexts, the giving of gifts is organized according to annual occasions, such as the month of Ramadan. The Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Dawah and Guidance organizes annually Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques' Gift Program to distribute dates, which consists of a shipment of premium dates weighing about two hundred tons sent from the date factory in Al-Ahsa Governorate in the Eastern Region to twenty-four countries worldwide.

Gifts of "Islamic Affairs"

The Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Dawah, and Guidance is one of the most active government bodies in terms of gift programs, whether connected to foreign countries on an international level or with pilgrims and Umrah performers on a local level. Every year, it organizes the "Pilgrim's Gift" program, which includes a package containing a tape of distinguished Quranic recitations and four books explaining the Pillars of Islam, faith, charity, upbringing, values, good morals, and principles of Sharia and belief.

The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques' Pilgrims' Gift Program offers the Holy Quran in diverse editions and translations of its meanings in various languages, in different sizes, produced by the King Fahd Glorious Quran Printing Complex. The number of Qurans gifted during the Hajj season annually to departing pilgrims is approximately 1.8 million copies, in addition to hundreds of thousands of copies given throughout the year to Umrah performers. The Pilgrims' Gift and the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Gift are distributed at the departure points of pilgrims and Umrah performers at land, sea, airports, and ports.

Charitable gifts

Locally, most associations and organizations in Saudi regions organize programs offering gifts to specific community segments, such as needy families or families of people with special needs, who are referred to as people of determination. For instance, Prince Khalid Al Faisal's initiative supports gift-giving programs executed by the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development under the supervision of the Social Development Center in Makkah al-Mukarramah Province, with gifts including magnetic shopping cards and purchasing coupons, usually numbering over 700 cards.

Diplomatic protocol gifts

Diplomatic relations often require the exchange of gifts on many occasions, and thus there are ceremonies and rules for giving and receiving them. It is customary for gift exchange ceremonies to occur at the end of official visits. There are general rules for gift-giving, including that diplomatic customs recognize symbolic gifts as acceptable, while expensive gifts are inappropriate and returned to the state treasury. The gift should represent the national identity and highlight Saudi culture richness, and it should be presented in an elegant envelope, as presentation is equally important as the gift itself. A card should accompany it explaining what the gift is, with a greeting of best wishes. When the gift is for a guest not in their own country, it should be easily transportable in terms of size and compliant with air transport regulations.

Gifts in the holy sites

The gift market in the holy sites expands as pilgrims are keen on buying gifts from the markets of Makkah al-Mukarramah and Al-Madinah al-Munawwarah to present to their families. Gifts include dates, prayer rugs, cotton and leather products, accessories, and gifts symbolizing the performance of rituals, such as models of the Two Holy Mosques, artifacts, prayer beads, and Siwak (tooth-cleaning sticks), as these gifts hold great significance coming from the Prophet's city and the sacred lands, in addition to their modest cost.

Gifts for pilgrims and Umrah performers also include honey, traditional sweets, miniatures of the "Clock Tower of Makkah," as well as Arabian perfumes, Oud, gold bracelets engraved with Islamic motifs, and Zamzam water.