Saudi Arabia Conducts Over 5,000 Inspections to Combat Commercial Concealment in August

RIYADH — The National Program to Combat Commercial Concealment conducted 5,161 inspection tours across Saudi Arabia during August. The inspection campaigns resulted in the detection of 239 suspected cases of commercial concealment, with the violators referred to the competent authorities for investigation and the imposition of deterrent penalties.

Under the Anti-Concealment Law, penalties include imprisonment for up to five years, a fine of up to SR5 million, and the seizure and confiscation of illicit funds following final judicial rulings against those involved.

The law also prescribes subsidiary penalties, including closing the establishment, liquidating the activity, canceling the commercial registration, prohibiting the practice of commercial activity, collecting zakat, fees and taxes, publicizing the scandal, and deporting those concealed from the Kingdom and prohibiting their return for work.

The inspection tours aimed to verify the compliance of commercial establishments and detect crimes and violations of the Anti-Concealment Law. The inspections covered a range of sectors, most notably retail sales of flowers and roses, travel and tourism agencies, restaurants with catering services, retail sales of dates, ornamental plant and seedling nurseries, and retail sales of women's abayas and furs.