Saudi anti-commercial concealment program conducts 1,861 inspections in September

The National Program for Combating Commercial Concealment conducted 1,861 inspection tours across various regions of Saudi Arabia in September 2026, based on indicators and signs of suspected concealment violations.

The inspections aimed to verify the compliance of commercial establishments and detect violations of the Anti-Commercial Concealment Law. They covered activities such as retail sales of preserved fruits and vegetables, central food and consumer markets, full-service restaurants, retail sales of dates, cafeterias, and retail sales of electronic and household electrical appliances.

During the inspections, 106 initial cases of suspected concealment were identified, and violators were referred to the relevant authorities for further investigation and the imposition of strict penalties on those found guilty.

Penalties under the Anti-Commercial Concealment Law include imprisonment for up to five years, fines of up to five million riyals (SAR), and the seizure and confiscation of illicit funds following final court rulings. Additional penalties may include closure of the establishment, liquidation of business activities, cancellation of the commercial registration, prohibition from conducting commercial activities, collection of zakat, fees, and taxes, public naming of offenders, and deportation of non-Saudi violators with a ban on returning to work in the Kingdom.