Article 21 of the Saudi E-Commerce Law
المادة 21 من نظام التجارة الإلكترونية
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.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
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 مناسبة، وذلك بحسب نوع المخالفة المرتكبة وجسامتها وتأثيرها، على أن يكون النشر بعد تحصن القرار بمضي المدة المحددة نظاماً أو كان الحكم الصادر في شأنه مكتسباً للصفة القطعية.
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 21 explained in plain English
This article allows publication of the penalty to be added to the decision that imposes it, which is commonly known as public naming.
What is published? The operative part of the decision, meaning the part that sets the penalty.
At whose expense? At the violator's expense.
Where is it published? In one or more local newspapers published where the violator resides, or by any other suitable means.
When is publication decided? Publication is not automatic; the article says "may", and it depends on the type of violation, its seriousness and its impact.
Timing of publication: Publication takes place only in one of two cases:
- After the decision becomes final through the lapse of the period set by law, or
- Where the judgment issued on it has acquired finality.
This condition protects the violator from the publication of a penalty that may later be overturned. It is linked to Article 20, which allows anyone against whom any decision was issued under the law to object to it before the administrative court in accordance with the Law of Procedure before the Board of Grievances.
Anyone who is the subject of a decision that includes publication, and who wants to know their options before the decision becomes final, can consult a lawyer who specializes in administrative cases.
Practical example
A decision was issued fining an online store in Riyadh for a serious violation that harmed a large number of consumers, and the decision included publication of its operative part at the store owner's expense. The decision is not published immediately, but only after it becomes final through the lapse of the period set by law, or after the judgment issued on the objection to it becomes final.
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 21 of the Saudi E-Commerce Law
Can a violating online store be publicly named?
A penalty decision may include publishing its operative part at the violator's expense in one or more local newspapers or any other suitable means, depending on the type of violation, its seriousness and its impact.
When is the penalty decision published?
After the decision becomes final through the lapse of the period set by law, or after the judgment issued on it acquires finality.
Who pays the cost of publishing the penalty?
Publication is at the violator's expense.
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 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 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.