Khul is one of the routes organized by the Saudi Personal Status Law issued by Royal Decree M/73 of 2022 and its 2025 Implementing Regulation for ending a marriage at the wife's initiative. It is not the only route available to her: the law also recognizes annulment for harm, annulment for non-maintenance, and separation for discord where reconciliation fails. This page presents what the law says about khul specifically — its definition, validity conditions, compensation rules, and documentation procedure — as part of the personal status materials on Hala Law. This is a general overview of the statutory position; the outcome in any file depends on the documents, the evidence, and the court's assessment.

What is khul under the law?

Article 95 of the Personal Status Law defines khul as a separation between the spouses at the wife's request and with the husband's consent, in exchange for compensation provided by the wife or another party. The three elements are clear: a request from the wife, consent from the husband, and compensation. This distinguishes khul from talaq (divorce pronounced by the husband) and from judicial annulment, which the court decides on statutory grounds such as harm or non-maintenance.

When is khul valid without a court judgment?

Under Article 96, where the spouses — both with full legal capacity — agree to end the marriage contract by khul, the khul is valid without the need for a court judgment. An agreed khul therefore proceeds primarily through documentation rather than litigation.

That ease comes with a clear obligation: Article 102 makes documentation of the khul mandatory and gives any interested party the right to request its establishment. Agreement alone does not replace documentation through the regulated procedures.

Compensation: what is allowed and what is not

The law sets no specific amount for the compensation, and no single figure fits every file; the compensation is a matter of agreement between the parties, and in case of dispute the court decides on the evidence. The express statutory rules are:

| Rule | Basis | | --- | --- | | Anything lawfully considered property may serve as compensation | Article 100 | | The compensation may never be the waiver of any right of the children or their custody | Article 100 | | Where the compensation is the dowry, it is limited to what the wife received; the remainder lapses even if deferred | Article 101 |

The most important limit deserves emphasis: children's rights are not bargaining currency. It is not lawful for the husband to condition his consent to khul on the wife giving up custody of the children or any of their rights.

Documentation steps via Najiz

Where the khul is agreed, the practical procedure runs through the Najiz platform:

  1. Log in to Najiz with the National Single Sign-On account.
  2. Find the khul documentation service within the Social Status services.
  3. Enter the parties' details, the marriage contract, and the facts, and attach the required documents.
  4. Submit the application and follow up on notifications and any missing requirements.

How much does it cost?

Personal status court cases and applications are exempt from the Judicial Costs Law, except for cassation applications and applications for reconsideration. The absence of court fees does not mean the process is cost-free: other costs may arise outside court fees, such as lawyer fees where counsel is engaged, the agreed compensation itself, or document and translation expenses.

If the husband does not agree: what does the court consider?

Khul by its nature rests on both parties' agreement. Where there is no agreement, the file does not automatically resolve in either party's favor; instead, another statutory route may need assessment depending on the file's facts and evidence, including:

  • Annulment for harm: where it is established that the husband harmed the wife in a way that makes continued married life together untenable.
  • Separation for discord: where discord persists and reconciliation fails, the file may move to the two-arbitrators track.
  • Annulment for non-maintenance: where its statutory grounds are met.

In all these routes, the court examines the documents and the facts, and the sufficiency of the evidence remains for the trial judge to weigh. No route's outcome can be stated in advance of a full review of the file.

When do you need a licensed lawyer?

This page is general information about the statutory texts, not an assessment of any particular case. The matter becomes a private case calling for a licensed lawyer or accredited consultant when:

  • There is no agreement on khul, and the file needs an assessment of which route — khul, annulment for harm, discord, or non-maintenance — best fits its facts and evidence.
  • The proposed agreement includes terms touching the children's rights or custody, which Article 100 does not permit as compensation.
  • There is a dispute over the amount of compensation or over what portion of the dowry was received — questions of evidence and documents.
  • The separation intersects with other claims: maintenance, custody, visitation, housing, or enforcement.

In these situations, the court examines each file on its own facts, and the outcome depends on the documents, the evidence, and the court's assessment — not on any single ready-made rule.