ALKHOBAR: When a Middle Eastern man falls in love with an American woman, not only do their cultures clash, but they also embark on a whirlwind adventure that spans continents and countries. If their relationship ultimately fails, a custody battle over the couple’s children sparks a series of lies, outright deceptions, and may even lead to international kidnappings
“Saudi Montana” is the title of a true story of the marital relationship and subsequent child custody battle between Ibrahim Al-Rabiah, a Saudi citizen, and his ex-wife Jennifer, an American.
On the surface, there are many differences between life in Saudi Arabia and America, and many people would say that a marital relationship between people from two such different cultures would never last in the first place.
However, “Saudi Montana” shows that while the cultures are different, people in general are much the same. “We all love; we all hurt, and we all will do whatever we can for the welfare of our children. Such was the story between Jennifer and me,” said Al-Rabiah.
“Saudi Montana” reads like a novel and takes the reader through various stages of his life and relationship with his ex-wife. It shows not only the trying times that spoiled their union, but also the happy times and how, despite their cultural differences, they were compatible, at least for a while.
Al-Rabiah said: “Like most tragic romances between people of different cultures who start a family, ‘Saudi Montana’ also details the custody battle Jennifer and I went through for our three children. Yet, the story stands alone in two important ways. First, I do not hide the fact that we both acted irrationally at times, and the story portrays the less than honorable things we both did to gain custody of our children, and those things include both lying and kidnapping.”
“The book tells in detail how a father gained custody of his children through the American legal system. In fact, finding a lawyer to represent me was a trying ordeal. The result is a story that shows the sometimes unspeakable acts parents will commit for their children — all in the name of love.
Although I currently live in Saudi Arabia, the story is geared to an American market.”
“In the events of the story, there are tragedies, sadness and extreme emotions such as anger; also kidnapping children, fighting, and accusations of mistreatment. In the end, the court decided to grant me custody of my children,” he said.

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