Saudi: Legal Wrangle Over Inheritance of SR80M by Syrian Woman After Millionaire Husband’s Death
The case of a young Syrian woman’s inheritance after the death of her husband — a millionaire Saudi businessman – came to the limelight once again after the Saudi Supreme Court’s recent directive to the Personal Status Court in Jeddah to reexamine the case and review its entire proceedings.
This was in response to a petition filed by the heirs of the deceased businessman, pleading to revoke the judgments issued by the lower courts in favour of the Syrian woman. According to the lower court verdict, the young woman is entitled to get SR80 million or more as an inheritance from the huge fortunes of her deceased husband. The Jeddah-based businessman died within two weeks after his misyar marriage with the woman that was held in a secret ceremony without the knowledge of his children and their mother.
The entire story dates back to about 10 years, when the businessman died, leaving behind huge fortunes amounting to around SR700 million. His children — ten sons and daughters, and their mother — were caught unawares when a young Syrian plaintiff, who is in her 20s, filed a lawsuit at the General Court in Jeddah, claiming that she was the wife of the late businessman.
