Article 19 of the Saudi E-Commerce Law
المادة 19 من نظام التجارة الإلكترونية
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.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
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 ألاّ يقل عدد أعضائها عن (ثلاثة) ويكون من بينهم مستشار نظامي على الأقل، وتصدر قرارات اللجنة بالأغلبية. ويصدر الوزير بقرار منه قواعد عمل اللجنة ويحدد مكافآت أعضائها.
2- يراعى في اختيار العقوبة جسامة المخالفة وتكرارها وحجم نشاط موفر الخدمة والضرر الذي وقع على الآخرين بسببها.
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 19 explained in plain English
This article identifies the body that considers violations and imposes the penalties set out in Article 18, which are a warning, a fine not exceeding SAR 1,000,000, suspension of e-commerce activity and blocking of the online store.
Formation of the committee (paragraph 1):
- One or more committees are formed by decision of the Minister.
- They consider violations of the provisions of the law or the Implementing Regulations and impose penalties.
- They have at least 3 members, including at least one legal adviser.
- They issue their decisions by majority.
- The Minister issues, by decision, the committee's work rules and sets the members' remuneration, so the details of its procedures are found in that decision.
Criteria for choosing the penalty (paragraph 2): In choosing the penalty, the following are taken into account:
- The seriousness of the violation.
- Its repetition.
- The size of the service provider's activity.
- The harm caused to others by it.
So the penalty is not the same for every violation; it should be proportionate to these factors, since a minor first-time violation differs from a repeated one that harmed a number of consumers.
Anyone against whom a decision has been issued under the law, including decisions of this committee, may under Article 20 object to it before the administrative court in accordance with the Law of Procedure before the Board of Grievances.
Anyone whose violation has been referred to the committee can consult a lawyer who specializes in commercial or administrative cases.
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 19 of the Saudi E-Commerce Law
Who imposes the penalties under the E-Commerce Law?
One or more committees formed by decision of the Minister, which consider violations and impose the penalties set out in Article 18.
How is the penalty for a violating online store determined?
In choosing the penalty, the seriousness of the violation, its repetition, the size of the service provider's activity and the harm caused to others are taken into account.
How many members does the e-commerce violations committee have?
At least 3, including at least one legal adviser, and decisions are issued by majority.
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 17
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.
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 الجه
- 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 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.