Abortion in Saudi Arabia is only legal in cases of risk to a woman’s life, fetal impairment, or to protect her physical and mental health.[1][2]Pregnancy arising from incest or rape also qualifies for a legal abortion under the mental health exemption.[2][3] The fetus must be less than four months old, and if older, requires a panel of approved specialists to declare that the pregnancy will result in the death of the woman or serious damage to her health.[4] Any approved abortion requires consent from three physicians as well as the patient and her partner.[5] If an abortion is performed on a woman for any other reason, the violator may be required to pay blood money to the unborn child's family.[5] Laws explicitly deny abortion to families who fear financial instability or an inability to provide the child with education.[5] The selling of pills which can cause an abortion is illegal and can result in arrest.[6]
According to the US-based Centre for Reproductive Studies, Saudi Arabia's abortion laws are [7] relatively more permissive compared to other countries of the Middle East and North Africa regions.[8][9]
