Saudi Ministry of Commerce introduces new market penalty schedule

The Saudi Ministry of Commerce has approved a new schedule of penalties for municipal violations related to commercial activities. Under the new regulations, businesses found manipulating the prices of essential goods may face fines ranging from 5,000 to 100,000 riyals per item, calculated based on the difference between the approved price and the actual selling price.

Certain violations are classified as serious, such as possessing or displaying goods of unknown origin or those containing misleading information. These infractions carry fines between 1,000 and 5,000 riyals and do not allow for a corrective grace period.

Other regulated activities include the refusal to sell, failure to issue invoices, and neglecting to display price tags, with fines ranging from 200 to 1,000 riyals depending on the municipality level. Additionally, businesses must provide valid electronic payment methods and maintain dedicated bank accounts, with non-compliance resulting in fines between 200 and 5,000 riyals. The regulations also address improper commercial discounts, misleading product information, and the misuse of national or religious symbols.