Palazzo Ballroom · Wedding budgets
Average Wedding Cost in Saudi Arabia: What the Published Figures Say
There is no single official figure for the cost of a Saudi wedding. It varies with the city, the family and above all the guest list. The headings, though, are constant. We gather here the figures that have actually been published, each with its source and date, then work out the one heading we know precisely: the celebration.
Press figures are attributed · venue figures are our own prices
At a glance
A wedding in Saudi Arabia has three cost groups: the mahr and gold, the celebration, and the home and honeymoon. The news site Al Saudi Al Youm reported in January 2024 an average mahr of about SAR 50,000, a wedding party of about SAR 30,000 and a honeymoon of about SAR 20,000. Palazzo pricing is available on request and depends on your event date and number of attendees.
- Mahr (published average)
- About SAR 50,000
- Wedding party (published)
- About SAR 30,000
- Venue and catering at Palazzo
- Price on request
- Biggest factor
- The number of guests
What Has Been Published, and Where
Search for the average wedding cost in Saudi Arabia and you will find totals from SAR 100,000 to well over SAR 250,000, most of them with no source. We have listed only figures that appeared in a named publication, with the date, because prices move from year to year.
| Item | Published figure | Source and date |
|---|---|---|
| Mahr, first marriage | About SAR 50,000 on average | Al Saudi Al Youm, 5 January 2024 |
| Mahr, second marriage | About SAR 30,000 | Same source |
| Mahr in Jeddah | Up to SAR 80,000 | Same source |
| Wedding party | About SAR 30,000 | Same source |
| Honeymoon | About SAR 20,000 | Same source |
| Wedding palaces in Jeddah, summer season | SAR 25,000 to 80,000 depending on services | Al Watan newspaper, 10 June 2024 |
| Hall priced per chair, north Jeddah | SAR 200 per chair including hospitality, buffet and bridal stage | Al Watan newspaper, 10 June 2024 |
| Economy halls in Jeddah, flat rental | SAR 6,000 to 17,000 | Zafaf.sa venue directory, read September 2026 |
| Luxury hotel ballrooms in Jeddah | SAR 400 to 600 or more per person | Same directory |
These are indicative figures reproduced as published. They are not official statistics. The mahr in particular varies widely between regions and families; the same source put it at SAR 100,000 in Al-Ahsa. We give no figure for gold, rent or furnishing because we found none in a source we trust, and they depend on the gold price on the day, the city and the size of the home.
The Three Cost Groups
1. Mahr and gold
The mahr is the gift from the groom to the bride, agreed between the two families. It is an obligation in Islamic marriage and belongs to the bride. There is no “saving” on it except by agreement. It is settled first, because the rest of the budget is whatever remains.
2. The celebration
The venue, the catering, the bridal stage, photography, the dress, invitations and music. This is the group the couple actually controls, and the one that changes most with the guest list.
3. Home, furniture and honeymoon
The costs that follow the wedding. Many families now put these ahead of the party itself: a smaller celebration and a better-furnished home. That reasoning is behind the rise of the short, family-only wedding.
Planning for Three Wedding Sizes in Jeddah
These three guest lists illustrate different planning needs, rather than fixed event budgets. Palazzo pricing is on request for the date and attendee count. Build the venue line from that written quote and collect separate quotes for the other services you choose.
| Example | Guests | Venue and catering at Palazzo | Other celebration costs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Short family wedding | 120 | Price on request | Confirm with each supplier |
| Mid-sized wedding, two sections | 400 | Price on request | Confirm with each supplier |
| Large wedding | 1,000 | Price on request | Confirm with each supplier |
Once your venue quote arrives, list what it includes before adding décor, photography and other suppliers. The percentages below are a planning framework, not a prediction of your venue price. Adjust the allocations to the actual offers you receive; a larger guest list does not increase every item in the same proportion.
Where the Celebration Budget Goes
| Item | Guideline share | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Venue and catering | 40% | At our venue this includes the standard bridal stage |
| Bridal stage and décor | 12% | For custom designs and fresh flowers |
| Wedding dress and outfits | 12% | Made to measure or hired |
| Photography and video | 8% | |
| Gold and gifts | 8% | Beyond the agreed mahr |
| Hair and make-up | 6% | For the bride and close family |
| Band or DJ | 5% | Depends on the style of the party |
| Invitations and favours | 4% | Digital invitations reduce this |
| Contingency | 5% | Untouched unless needed |
What Moves the Cost Most
- Palazzo pricing is available on request and depends on your event date and number of attendees.
- The kind of venue. Luxury hotel ballrooms in Jeddah start at about SAR 400 per person according to the directory quoted above, figures that should be compared with a quote for your specific event.
- Season and day. The summer holiday, the weeks after Ramadan, and Thursday and Friday nights cost more than a midweek night in a quiet month.
- Dinner. Welcome hospitality only, or a full buffet. This is the largest difference within the per-guest price.
Two Things That Surprise Newcomers
There are usually two receptions. Men and women celebrate separately on the same night, so a wedding for 400 is often a men's dinner for 150 and a women's party for 250. Ask every venue how the second room is priced. Tell the Palazzo team the expected attendance in each section so the quote reflects your layout.
The women's reception is the larger event. It runs longer, carries the bridal stage and the entrance procession, and takes most of the décor budget. The men's reception is shorter and centred on dinner.
A fuller explanation of how a Saudi wedding night unfolds is in our guide to Saudi weddings. For venue prices by category see wedding hall prices in Jeddah, and for ways to bring the figure down see cheap wedding halls in Jeddah.
Request a tailored quote
Share your date and attendee count. We will confirm availability and pricing for your event.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average cost of a wedding in Saudi Arabia?
There is no single official figure. Al Saudi Al Youm reported in January 2024 averages of about SAR 50,000 for the mahr, SAR 30,000 for the wedding party and SAR 20,000 for the honeymoon, to which gold, housing and furniture are added.
What is the average mahr in Saudi Arabia?
According to the January 2024 report, about SAR 50,000 for a first marriage and SAR 30,000 for a second, with wide variation between regions and families.
How much of a wedding budget goes on the venue?
Venue and catering together take about 40% of the celebration budget in the guideline split we use. Palazzo pricing is available on request and depends on your event date and number of attendees.
How much does a wedding for 400 guests cost in Jeddah?
Palazzo pricing is available on request and depends on your event date and number of attendees.
What is the easiest way to reduce the cost?
Shorten the guest list first, then choose a midweek night, then decide the level of the dinner. All three act on the largest item, venue and catering.
Are the figures on this page binding prices?
No. Press and directory figures are quoted with their dates for reference. The binding figure is the written quote you receive after sending your numbers and date.
Start the Budget With the Largest Item
Send the guest count and the expected month. You receive the venue and catering figure in writing, to build the rest around.
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