Article 11 of the Saudi E-Commerce Law
المادة 11 من نظام التجارة الإلكترونية
The Article bars an electronic advertisement from containing false claims or wording that deceives or misleads the consumer, or a logo or trademark the advertiser has no right to use or that is counterfeit.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
يحظر تضمين الإعلان الإلكتروني ما يأتي:
أ- عرضاً أو بياناً أو ادعاء كاذباً أو مصوغاً بعبارات من شأنها أن تؤدي بصورة مباشرة أو غير مباشرة إلى خداع المستهلك أو تضليله.
ب- شعاراً أو علامة تجارية لا يملك موفر الخدمة حق استعمالها، أو علامة مقلدة.
This is the official Arabic wording, the only legally binding version. We do not translate the law itself; the explanation below is ours. Official source: Bureau of Experts at the Council of Ministers
Article 11 explained in plain English
This Article complements Article 10, which made the electronic advertisement a supplementary document to the contract binding on its parties and set the information required in it, by setting out what is prohibited from being placed in the advertisement. The prohibition covers two things:
First: falsehood and deception. An advertisement is prohibited from containing:
- an offer, statement or claim that is false, or
- an offer, statement or claim phrased in wording likely to deceive or mislead the consumer, whether directly or indirectly.
The information need not be expressly false; it is enough that its wording is likely to deceive or mislead the consumer, even indirectly.
Second: trademarks and logos. An advertisement is prohibited from containing:
- a logo or trademark that the service provider has no right to use, or
- a counterfeit mark.
Article 12 provides that if it is established that the service provider violated this Article, the Ministry may require him to remove the violation or withdraw the advertisement within one day of being notified, without prejudice to imposing the penalties in Article 18.
A person who has been harmed by an advertisement they consider misleading, or who wants to review their business's advertisements before publishing them, can consult a lawyer specialized in commercial cases.
Practical example
An online store published an advertisement for bags bearing the logo of a famous international brand and describing them as original, although they are not produced by that brand and the store has no right to use its logo. This advertisement combines both violations: a false claim that misleads the consumer, and use of a trademark the store has no right to use.
Translated from our Arabic explanation with machine assistance. For guidance only; it does not replace advice from a lawyer on your situation.
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Frequently asked questions about Article 11 of the Saudi E-Commerce Law
Is a misleading advertisement a violation of the E-Commerce Law?
Yes, an electronic advertisement is prohibited from containing any offer, statement or claim that is false or phrased in wording likely to deceive or mislead the consumer, directly or indirectly.
May a store use a brand logo in its advertisement?
Not if it has no right to use that logo or trademark, and use of counterfeit marks is also prohibited.
What happens to a violating advertisement?
Under Article 12, the Ministry may require the service provider to remove the violation or withdraw the advertisement within one day of being notified, without prejudice to the penalties in Article 18.
More articles on Online Advertising
- Article 10
The Article makes the electronic advertisement a supplementary contractual document binding on the parties, and requires it to include the product or service name, the service provider's name and his contact means.
1- يُعد الإعلان الإلكتروني من الوثائق التعاقدية المكملة للعقود وملزمة لأطراف العقد. 2- يجب أن يتضمن الإعلان الإلكتروني ما يأتي: أ- اسم المنتج أو الخدمة المعلن ع
- Article 12
The Article allows the Ministry to require a service provider who violated the electronic advertisement provisions to remove the violation or withdraw the advertisement within one day of being notified, without prejudice to penalties.
مع عدم الإخلال بإيقاع العقوبات الواردة في المادة (الثامنة عشرة) من النظام، إذا ثبت أن موفر الخدمة خالف أيًّا من أحكام الفقرة (2) من المادة (العاشرة) أو المادة (
The texts are reproduced from the official website of the Bureau of Experts at the Council of Ministers for reference; where they differ, the officially published Arabic text prevails. This content is not legal advice.