Article 17 of the Saudi E-Commerce Law
المادة 17 من نظام التجارة الإلكترونية
The article allows the Minister or a delegate to block a violating online store, partly or fully, in urgent cases, with the violation referred to the committee within 3 days and decided within 10 days.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
إذا خالف موفر الخدمة أيًّا من أحكام النظام أو اللائحة، فللوزير -أو من ينيبه- أن يتخذ في الحالات العاجلة والضرورية قراراً بحجب المحل الإلكتروني -بالتنسيق مع الجهة المختصة- جزئيًّا أو كليًّا إلى أن تتم معالجة المخالفة أو البت فيها أيهما أسبق، وإحالة المخالفة إلى اللجنة المنصوص عليها في الفقرة (1) من المادة (التاسعة عشرة) من النظام خلال مدة أقصاها (ثلاثة) أيام اعتباراً من حجب المحل الإلكتروني؛ على أن تتخذ اللجنة قرارها في شأن المخالفة خلال مدة لا تتجاوز (عشرة) أيام اعتباراً من تاريخ الإحالة، وللجنة وقف قرار حجب المحل الإلكتروني جزئيًّا أو كليًّا إذا رأت مسوغاً لذلك.
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 17 explained in plain English
This article deals with the urgent blocking of an online store before the violation is decided, a temporary measure to protect those dealing with it.
Conditions for blocking:
- The service provider violates any provision of the law or the Implementing Regulations.
- The case is urgent and necessary.
Who decides? The Minister or a delegate, in coordination with the competent authority. The block may be partial or full.
Duration of the block: It continues until the violation is remedied or decided, whichever comes first.
Time limits:
- The violation is referred to the committee mentioned in paragraph 1 of Article 19 within a maximum of 3 days from the date of the block.
- The committee issues its decision on the violation within a period not exceeding 10 days from the date of referral.
The committee's power: The committee may suspend the blocking decision, partly or fully, if it sees a justification for doing so.
Blocking here is an urgent measure, not a final penalty; the penalties are set out in Article 18, and include a warning, a fine not exceeding SAR 1,000,000, suspension of e-commerce activity, and temporary or permanent blocking.
A service provider whose store has been blocked can remedy the violation; under the article, remedying it ends the reason for the block. Given the short time limits, it is advisable to consult a lawyer who specializes in commercial or administrative cases without delay.
Practical example
The Ministry received numerous complaints about an online store selling products with misleading advertisements, and considered the case urgent. The Minister's delegate decided to block the store fully, in coordination with the competent authority, and the violation was then referred to the committee within 3 days. The committee must decide it within 10 days of the referral. If the store remedies the violation before then, the block ends.
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 17 of the Saudi E-Commerce Law
When can an online store be blocked?
If the service provider violates the provisions of the law or the Implementing Regulations and the case is urgent and necessary, the Minister or a delegate may block the store in coordination with the competent authority.
How long does the blocking of an online store last?
Until the violation is remedied or decided, whichever comes first, and the committee decides within a period not exceeding 10 days from the date of referral.
Can a blocking decision be suspended?
Yes. The committee may suspend the blocking decision, partly or fully, if it sees a justification for doing so.
Articles this article refers to
More articles on E-Commerce Violations
- 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 (
- Article 18
The article sets the penalties for violating the E-Commerce Law or its regulations: a warning, a fine up to SAR 1,000,000, suspension of activity, and blocking of the online store, without prejudice to a harsher penalty.
مع عدم الاخلال بأي عقوبة أشد ينص عليها نظام آخر، يعاقب كل من يخالف أيًّا من أحكام النظام أو اللائحة بواحدة أو أكثر من العقوبات الآتية: أ- الإنذار. ب- غرامة لا ت
- Article 19
The article provides for one or more committees formed by the Minister to consider violations and impose penalties, and covers their composition, how they decide and the criteria for choosing a penalty.
1- تكوّن بقرار من الوزير لجنة (أو أكثر) تتولى النظر في مخالفات أحكام النظام أو اللائحة وتوقيع العقوبات المنصوص عليها في المادة (الثامنة عشرة) من النظام، على ألا
- Article 20
The article allows anyone against whom a decision was issued under the E-Commerce Law to object to it before the administrative court under the Law of Procedure before the Board of Grievances.
يجوز لمن صدر ضده أي قرار بناءً على النظام الاعتراض عليه أمام المحكمة الإدارية وفقاً لأحكام نظام المرافعات أمام ديوان المظالم.
- Article 21
The article allows a penalty decision to include publishing its operative part at the violator's expense in a local newspaper or other suitable means, after the decision becomes final or the judgment acquires finality.
يجوز تضمين القرار الصادر بتحديد العقوبة النص على نشر منطوقه على نفقة المخالف في صحيفة (أو أكثر) من الصحف المحلية التي تصدر في محل إقامته، أو في أي وسيلة أخرى من
- Article 22
The article provides that the competent court decides disputes arising from applying the E-Commerce Law, including claims for compensation.
تتولى المحكمة المختصة الفصل في المنازعات، بما في ذلك دعاوى المطالبة بالتعويض الناشئة عن تطبيق أحكام النظام
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.