As part of its ongoing efforts to ensure market stability and protect consumer rights, the Ministry of Commerce branch in Madinah intensified its field inspection tours of commercial establishments in anticipation of the holy month of Ramadan. These intensified campaigns resulted in the issuance of 499 immediate violations against commercial establishments that failed to comply with the regulations and laws in force in the Kingdom.
These measures are part of a seasonal action plan aimed at regulating markets, ensuring the availability of essential and Ramadan-related goods, and monitoring inventory levels to guarantee that increased demand during the holy month is met. The inspection tours conducted by the monitoring teams included a total of 10,523 field visits targeting retail outlets, major shopping centers, supermarkets, and food warehouses. The teams also addressed 3,241 complaints received from consumers, reflecting the effective partnership between citizens and regulatory authorities.
General context: Consumer protection as a national priority
These inspection campaigns are part of the broader efforts of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, represented by the Ministry of Commerce, to promote a fair and transparent business environment. Consumer protection is a cornerstone of Saudi Vision 2030, which aims to improve the quality of life for citizens and residents. The Ministry works year-round to enforce regulations that prevent harmful business practices such as price gouging, commercial fraud, and monopolies, and ensures that businesses comply with regulations requiring price tags, invoices, and return and exchange policies.
The importance of monitoring during peak seasons, such as in Medina
These tours are of particular importance in Medina due to its religious significance and the millions of visitors and pilgrims it receives, especially during Ramadan. The demand for food and consumer goods increases significantly, necessitating vigilance from regulatory authorities to ensure the stability of supply chains and prevent any exploitation of consumers, both residents and visitors. Ensuring the availability of products at reasonable prices and high quality not only benefits the city's residents but also contributes to a comfortable and spiritually enriching experience for pilgrims, reflecting the Kingdom's commitment to serving the Two Holy Mosques and their visitors.
The ministry confirmed that market activity is proceeding normally, with a clear abundance of food and Ramadan-related goods and a continuous flow of supplies to meet demand. A number of shoppers expressed their satisfaction with the availability of various goods at reasonable prices, praising the role of ongoing monitoring in promoting market stability and ensuring consumers can easily access what they need.
In closing, the Ministry of Commerce reiterated its call to all consumers to report any commercial violations through the “Commercial Report” application, or through the reporting center on the unified number (1900), or through the official website of the Ministry, stressing that it will not hesitate to apply the regulations against violators.
