Commerce ministry carries out over 20,000 inspection tours in August

The Saudi Ministry of Commerce has announced that it conducted over 20,000 inspection tours across the Kingdom throughout the month of August. These operations were part of a broader, ongoing effort to ensure market compliance with national discount regulations and to protect consumer rights during the active commercial discount season.

According to the ministry, the inspection teams focused on verifying the validity of discount permits, ensuring that retailers were adhering to authorized discount rates, and confirming that prices were clearly displayed on tags and electronic readers. Officials also checked that businesses were properly disclosing their return and exchange policies to customers. This campaign is scheduled to continue through October 31, covering the entirety of the 2026 commercial discount season.

To further empower consumers, the Ministry of Commerce has encouraged the public to verify the legitimacy of any advertised discounts. Shoppers are advised to scan the official barcode displayed on discount permits, which provides access to details regarding the discount percentage, the duration of the offer, and the specific establishment information. By promoting these digital verification tools, the ministry aims to increase transparency in the retail sector and prevent fraudulent promotional practices.