Article 23 of the Saudi E-Commerce Law
المادة 23 من نظام التجارة الإلكترونية
The article provides that employees appointed by decision of the Minister carry out oversight and inspection of e-commerce dealings and record violations of the law and its regulations.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
يتولى موظفون -يصدر بتعيينهم قرار من الوزير- أعمال الرقابة والتفتيش على تعاملات التجارة الإلكترونية وضبط مخالفات أحكام النظام واللائحة.
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 23 explained in plain English
This article identifies who carries out oversight and inspection in the e-commerce sector.
Who are they? Employees appointed by decision of the Minister. Not just anyone may perform these tasks, only those for whom a ministerial decision of appointment has been issued.
What are their tasks?
- Oversight of e-commerce dealings.
- Inspection of them.
- Recording violations of the provisions of the law and the Implementing Regulations.
These employees are the ones who detect and record violations. The article does not state their detailed powers or the inspection procedures; it is limited to assigning these tasks to them.
Deciding disputes and claims for compensation arising from applying the law is for the competent court under Article 22, so the role of these employees is oversight and recording, not adjudication.
As a result, service providers should expect oversight of their online dealings, and should take care to comply with the provisions of the law and its regulations. Anyone subject to an oversight measure or a recorded violation who needs to understand their position can consult a lawyer who specializes in commercial 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 23 of the Saudi E-Commerce Law
Who monitors online stores in Saudi Arabia?
Oversight and inspection of e-commerce dealings is carried out by employees appointed by decision of the Minister.
What are the tasks of e-commerce oversight employees?
Oversight and inspection of e-commerce dealings and recording violations of the provisions of the law and the regulations.
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 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
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.