MCI inspections across markets reveal widespread pricing, regulatory violations
. . . vows continued monitoring to protect consumers and ensure market compliance; issues over 900 citation reports in November
The Ministry of Commerce and Industry announced that its commercial control teams issued over 900 violation reports during November 2025, as part of intensive inspection tours aimed at protecting consumers, regulating markets, and promoting fair competition.
According to a ministry statement, the inspections covered a wide range of commercial activities across the country, including vegetable, fruit, and meat markets, restaurants, electronics stores, car workshops, outlets selling subsidized or counterfeit goods, as well as advertisements and promotional offers.
The most frequent violations recorded were 154 cases of goods without price tags and 101 cases of invoices and contracts not using Arabic, a key regulatory requirement to ensure clarity in commercial transactions. Additionally, inspectors found 53 violations in vegetable and fruit markets for missing price tags or undeclared country of origin, and 26 instances of commercial fraud involving incomplete or misleading information about goods.
The inspections also uncovered violations related to warranties and after-sales services, including delays in maintenance or failure to provide alternatives during repairs, as well as irregularities in promotional offers, such as exceeding allowed discount rates or advertising without proper licensing.
Oversight extended to the automotive sector, pharmacies, and some virtual asset-related financial activities, as part of a comprehensive effort to ensure compliance with commercial regulations and protect consumer rights.
Acting Undersecretary Mariam Al-Jaidan said the November results “reflect the daily field efforts of the inspection teams and the ministry’s ongoing commitment to safeguarding consumers and addressing practices that threaten market stability.”
She added that the ministry “will not tolerate any violations that undermine consumer confidence or harm the commercial environment, and inspection tours will continue to reinforce transparency and compliance with the law.”
