Article 30 of the Saudi Anti-Fraud Law

This Article sets the start of the Law's effect. It contains two provisions:

• Publication: the Law is published in the Official Gazette.
• Start of effect: the Law takes effect ninety days after its publication, not from the date of its issuance.

The period between publication and the start of effect gives merchants, producers, importers and the competent authorities the chance to prepare and adjust their position to the new provisions before they become binding.

It follows that acts committed before the Law took effect are not subject to its provisions merely because it has been published; what counts is the start of effect set by this Article. Deciding which law applies to a particular incident requires looking at its date and circumstances.

This Article is linked to Article 29, which provides that this Law replaces the Anti-Commercial Fraud Law issued by Royal Decree No. (M/11) dated 29/5/1404 AH. The new Law takes the place of the old one and takes effect once ninety days have passed since its publication in the Official Gazette.

Anyone with an incident close to the date the Law took effect who wants to know which provisions apply to it would do well to consult a lawyer who specializes in commercial cases.