Consumer protection efforts in Saudi Arabia: 1,055 commercial violations detected
In a strategic move aimed at enhancing the reliability of the local market, the Saudi Consumer Protection Association launched the “Economic Operator Compliance Verification Program.” This pioneering program seeks to ensure that shops and companies adhere to consumer rights as stipulated in the regulations and legislation in force within the Kingdom, reflecting the commitment of relevant authorities to providing a safe and fair business environment for all.
Evolution of commercial legislation and guaranteeing shoppers' rights
The business and trade environment in Saudi Arabia has witnessed radical transformations in recent years, particularly with the rapid growth of the e-commerce sector. In line with the goals of Saudi Vision 2030, which aims to diversify the national economy and enhance digital transformation, the need has become critical for developing robust regulations that ensure the transparency of commercial transactions. In this context, modern legislation plays a fundamental role in regulating the market. Several laws have been enacted, such as the E-Commerce Law, to protect the rights of all parties and prevent misleading or fraudulent practices, thus paving the way for a more mature and reliable investment environment.
Evaluation mechanism and results of store inspections
The program explained that its operational mechanism relies on identifying a list of targeted stores and inspecting them according to approved scientific and practical methodologies. These methodologies include conducting mystery shopping operations, in addition to carrying out thorough field and online visits to verify the actual level of compliance. The initiative's outputs revealed a comprehensive assessment that included 430 online stores and 552 traditional retail outlets. The results showed the detection of 1,055 cases of non-compliance in the assessed online stores, while only 85 online stores were found to be fully compliant with the regulations. The association did not stop at monitoring; the report also indicated the implementation of 130 corrective actions by the operators, along with the establishment of 5 specialized workshops to support and follow up on compliance.
The most prominent violations committed by stores and the role of consumer protection in Saudi Arabia to reduce them
The association reported that the most prominent cases of non-compliance by online stores involved several major violations, most notably: failure to register the online store on official platforms, violation of the policy for protecting users' personal data, and failure to include the establishment's national address. The initiative also identified a clear lack of product labeling information, the absence of a privacy policy, and a clear disregard for the return and exchange policies guaranteed by law. These aspects are assessed according to comprehensive criteria that primarily focus on improving the consumer experience, including legal and operational compliance and pricing transparency. This highlights the vital role of consumer protection efforts in Saudi Arabia in curbing these violations.
Sustainable economic impact of enhancing market reliability
These regulatory and oversight efforts not only protect individuals but also have a broad positive impact on the local and regional economies. Locally, eliminating irregular business practices enhances consumer confidence, which translates into increased sales and growth in the retail sector. Regionally and internationally, the markets' commitment to the highest standards of transparency makes the Kingdom an attractive destination for investment and sets a benchmark for market governance. To encourage companies to excel, the "Consumer-Friendly" certification is awarded to operators who actively contribute to improving their compliance levels, provide effective communication channels for handling complaints, and offer services tailored to people with disabilities. Finally, the association invites all members of the community to participate in ongoing surveys to further develop this initiative and ensure its lasting impact.
