  Websites and applications that match and connect individuals for romantic
purposes are commonly used in the Western world. However, there have not been
many previous investigations focusing on cultural factors that affect the
adoption of similar technologies in religiously conservative non-Western
cultures. In this study, we examine the socio-technical and cultural factors
that influence the perceptions and use of matchmaking technologies in Saudi
Arabia. We report the methods and findings of interviews with 18 Saudi
nationals (nine males and nine females) with diverse demographics and
backgrounds. We provide qualitatively generated insights into the major themes
reported by our participants related to the common approaches to matchmaking,
the current role of technology, and concerns regarding matchmaking technologies
in this cultural con-text. We relate these themes to specific implications for
designing marital matchmaking technologies in Saudi Arabia and we outline
opportunities for future investigations.
