Article 20 of the Saudi E-Commerce Law
المادة 20 من نظام التجارة الإلكترونية
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.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
يجوز لمن صدر ضده أي قرار بناءً على النظام الاعتراض عليه أمام المحكمة الإدارية وفقاً لأحكام نظام المرافعات أمام ديوان المظالم.
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 20 explained in plain English
This article ensures that decisions issued under the law are subject to judicial review.
Who may object? Anyone against whom any decision was issued under the law. The wording is general and is not limited to penalty decisions. One example of decisions under the law is the decisions of the committee referred to in Article 19, which considers violations and imposes the penalties in Article 18.
Where is the objection filed? Before the administrative court.
What procedures apply? The objection is made in accordance with the Law of Procedure before the Board of Grievances. The article itself does not set the objection period or its steps, but refers to that law. Anyone who wishes to object should therefore check the deadlines and procedures it prescribes, so as not to lose the right.
This right is connected to Article 21, which allows a penalty decision to include publication of its operative part at the violator's expense, and requires that publication take place only after the decision becomes final through the lapse of the period set by law or the judgment issued on it acquires finality.
Because an objection is subject to specific procedures and deadlines in the Law of Procedure before the Board of Grievances, anyone against whom a decision has been issued is advised to consult a lawyer who specializes in administrative cases as soon as possible.
Practical example
The violations committee issued a decision fining an online store in Jeddah and suspending its activity temporarily, and the store owner believes the decision is wrong. He may object to it before the administrative court, in accordance with the Law of Procedure before the Board of Grievances.
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 20 of the Saudi E-Commerce Law
Can I object to a penalty decision against an online store?
Yes. Anyone against whom any decision was issued under the law may object to it before the administrative court.
Which body hears objections to decisions under the E-Commerce Law?
The administrative court, and the objection is made in accordance with the Law of Procedure before the Board of Grievances.
How long do I have to object to the decision?
The article does not set the objection period; it refers to the provisions of the Law of Procedure before the Board of Grievances.
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 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 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.