Combating Concealment 2025: Fines of 8.6 million and referral of 47 cases to the Public Prosecution
The National Program to Combat Commercial Concealment announced its monitoring results for 2025, revealing a package of stringent measures aimed at purifying the business environment in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. These efforts included conducting 35,280 thorough inspection visits covering various regions and sectors, resulting in fines exceeding 8.69 million riyals, a move that underscores the authorities' determination to eliminate the shadow economy.
Intensive monitoring efforts and record numbers
As part of the comprehensive national campaign to cleanse the market, inspection teams relied on advanced mechanisms during their field visits, based on reading indicators of suspicion and digital signals. These technologies enabled the teams to detect 1,017 initial suspected cases of commercial concealment across various sectors, demonstrating the effectiveness of modern monitoring and analysis tools in accurately identifying violators, thus avoiding random inspections.
Economic context and the Kingdom's Vision 2030
These intensified efforts align with the objectives of the Kingdom's Vision 2030, which prioritizes combating commercial concealment. Commercial concealment is a major challenge facing the national economy, distorting the market, hindering the growth of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and leading to the illicit outflow of funds. Through these campaigns, the Kingdom aims to promote fair competition and empower citizens and entrepreneurs to conduct business in a safe and stimulating environment.
Artificial intelligence and community reporting
The efforts were not limited to government action alone; 2025 witnessed significant community engagement, with program teams professionally handling 6,373 reports received from the public regarding suspected commercial concealment. These teams investigated the reports on the ground and took the necessary regulatory measures to ensure compliance by the establishments. This figure reflects the community's awareness of the harms of commercial concealment and the importance of reporting practices detrimental to the economy.
Expected economic effects
These proactive measures and deterrent penalties are expected to significantly improve the Kingdom's investment climate. Combating commercial concealment will force unscrupulous operators out of the market, creating opportunities for legitimate investors to expand and grow. This will also contribute to creating real job opportunities for citizens, ensuring the quality of services and products offered to consumers, and boosting the state's non-oil revenues through the systematic collection of fees, zakat, and taxes.
Firmness in implementing regulations
Last year witnessed decisive legal action reflecting a policy of zero tolerance for serious crimes. This was demonstrated by the referral of 724 confirmed violations to the Committee for Reviewing Violations of the Anti-Concealment Law, in addition to the referral of 47 serious and significant violations to the Public Prosecution to complete the criminal proceedings. These referrals aim to apply the maximum penalties stipulated in the law, which include imprisonment, hefty fines, publicizing the violations, canceling commercial registrations, and deporting non-Saudi nationals involved, to serve as a deterrent to others.
