Arab Press

بالشعب و للشعب
Friday, Aug 22, 2025

44 stores fined for breaking e-commerce laws, five shut down

44 stores fined for breaking e-commerce laws, five shut down

44 Maarouf-registered electronic stores that guarantee data confidentiality of its users have been fined and five others shut, according to the Ministry of Commerce, local media reported.

“Offenders were issued with fines and five other e-stores were shut down for breaking the e-commerce laws,” officials of the ministry told Al Riyadh newspaper.

Officials reminded owners of e-stores to review and update their procedures and systems to protect consumer personal data; prepare a privacy policy, if they don’t already have one in place on their website; amend their electronic advertising and include an “unsubscribe” option; update their terms and conditions and invoices in line with the Regulations; register their E-store on the commercial register; and ensure that they hold the appropriate licence from the ministry, if based in the kingdom.

They warned that the fines for breach of the law are substantial – up to one million Saudi riyals and/or permanent or temporary suspension of e-commerce in the kingdom.

Consumer protection


The law aims to improve overall consumer confidence in e-commerce transactions. It includes provisions intended to protect consumers against fraud, deception and misrepresentation of information.

There is a clear emphasis on the protection of consumer data, and the E-Commerce Law imposes a legal obligation on the service provider to maintain the privacy of a consumer’s data.

Furthermore, the E-Commerce Law includes a provision that consumers may return goods, or terminate a contract of service, obtained through an e-commerce channel, within seven days of receipt, if they have not used or benefitted from the goods or services - except for certain circumstances that are set out in the law.

Such circumstances are likely to include a situation where the good is defective due to poor consumer care. Consumer also have the right to cancel their order if the service provider delays delivery for more than 15 days. Further, certain obligations are placed around electronic advertisements to further protect consumers against fraud.

Promising market


An independent study conducted by ‘eShopWorld’ in 2018 reported that “there are currently 12.94 million e-commerce users in Saudi Arabia, with an additional 6.34 million users expected by 2022” and that in 2022 the “19.28 million e-commerce users will spend an average of USD 487.70 online”.

E-commerce is a fast-evolving sector in Saudi Arabia that has seen a continuous upwards trend over the last few years. According to figures from Saudi Communications and Information Technology Commission, e-commerce grew 49.9 per cent in 2018, up from 47.9 per cent in 2017, and 37.3 per cent in 2016.

Monitoring and enforcement


The E-Commerce Law has given the authority to the Ministry of Commerce to apply punitive measures in the event of an individual violating provisions of the law. The severity of the penalties that can be imposed pursuant to the E-Commerce Law range, depending on the violation, from the violator receiving a mere warning, to receiving a monetary fine of up to one million Saudi Riyals.

In addition, the e-commerce store may be suspended, or closed down permanently, or have its website blocked. The severity of the penalty imposed takes into consideration factors such as the seriousness of the violation, its frequency and the damage caused to others.

The Department of Monitoring Electronic Stores is tasked to monitor electronic stores, monitor their compliance with the E-Commerce Law and receiving consumers’ complaints.

Newsletter

Related Articles

Arab Press
0:00
0:00
Close
Dogfights in the Skies: Airbus on Track to Overtake Boeing and Claim Aviation Supremacy
Tim Cook Promises an AI Revolution at Apple: "One of the Most Significant Technologies of Our Generation"
Are AI Data Centres the Infrastructure of the Future or the Next Crisis?
Miles Worth Billions: How Airlines Generate Huge Profits
Zelenskyy Returns to White House Flanked by European Allies as Trump Pressures Land-Swap Deal with Putin
Beijing is moving into gold and other assets, diversifying away from the dollar
Trump Backs Putin’s Land-for-Peace Proposal Amid Kyiv’s Rejection
Zelenskyy to Visit Washington after Trump–Putin Summit Yields No Agreement
Iranian Protection Offers Chinese Vehicle Shipments a Cost Advantage over Japanese and Korean Makers
United States Sells Luxury Yacht Amadea, Valued at Approximately $325 Million, in First Sale of a Seized Russian Yacht Since the Invasion of Ukraine
Saudi Arabia accelerates renewables to curb domestic oil use
Cristiano Ronaldo and Georgina Rodríguez announce engagement
Asia-Pacific dominates world’s busiest flight routes, with South Korea’s Jeju–Seoul corridor leading global rankings
Private Welsh island with 19th-century fort listed for sale at over £3 million
Sam Altman challenges Elon Musk with plans for Neuralink rival
Australia to Recognize the State of Palestine at UN Assembly
The Collapse of the Programmer Dream: AI Experts Now the Real High-Earners
Armenia and Azerbaijan to Sign US-Brokered Framework Agreement for Nakhchivan Corridor
British Labour Government Utilizes Counter-Terrorism Tools for Social Media Monitoring Against Legitimate Critics
WhatsApp Deletes 6.8 Million Scam Accounts Amid Rising Global Fraud
Texas Residents Face Water Restrictions While AI Data Centers Consume Millions of Gallons
India Rejects U.S. Tariff Threat, Defends Russian Oil Purchases
United States Establishes Strategic Bitcoin Reserve and Digital Asset Stockpile
Thousands of Private ChatGPT Conversations Accidentally Indexed by Google
China Tightens Mineral Controls, Curtailing Critical Inputs for Western Defence Contractors
JPMorgan and Coinbase Unveil Partnership to Let Chase Cardholders Buy Crypto Directly
British Tourist Dies Following Hair Transplant in Turkey, Police Investigate
WhatsApp Users Targeted in New Scam Involving Account Takeovers
Trump Deploys Nuclear Submarines After Threats from Former Russian President Medvedev
Germany’s Economic Breakdown and the Return of Militarization: From Industrial Collapse to a New Offensive Strategy
Germany Enters Fiscal Crisis as Cabinet Approves €174 Billion in New Debt
IMF Upgrades Global Growth Forecast as Weaker Dollar Supports Outlook
Politics is a good business: Barack Obama’s Reported Net Worth Growth, 1990–2025
UN's Top Court Declares Environmental Protection a Legal Obligation Under International Law
"Crazy Thing": OpenAI's Sam Altman Warns Of AI Voice Fraud Crisis In Banking
Japanese Prime Minister Vows to Stay After Coalition Loses Upper House Majority
President Trump Diagnosed with Chronic Venous Insufficiency After Leg Swelling
Man Dies After Being Pulled Into MRI Machine Due to Metal Chain in New York Clinic
FIFA Pressured to Rethink World Cup Calendar Due to Climate Change
Iranian President Reportedly Injured During Israeli Strike on Secret Facility
Kurdistan Workers Party Takes Symbolic Step Towards Peace in Northern Iraq
BRICS Expands Membership with Indonesia and Ten New Partner Countries
Elon Musk Founds a Party Following a Poll on X: "You Wanted It – You Got It!"
AI Raises Alarms Over Long-Term Job Security
Russia Formally Recognizes Taliban Government in Afghanistan
Saudi Arabia Maintains Ties with Iran Despite Israel Conflict
Mediators Edge Closer to Israel-Hamas Ceasefire Agreement
Germany Seeks Taliban Deal to Deport Afghan Migrants
Emirates Airline Expands Market Share with New $20 Million Campaign
Robots Compete in Football Tournament in China Amid Injuries
×