In brief
Criminalises enabling a non-Saudi to run, for their own account, an economic activity they are not licensed for by using a Saudi's name, licence or commercial register, punishing both parties and accomplices, and sets violations and their penalties.
Summary of the law
Key points
- The offence covers whoever lets a non-Saudi use their name, licence, commercial register or trade name, the non-Saudi who runs the business, and anyone who knowingly incites, helps or advises (Article 3).
- Someone who reports the offence before it is discovered may be exempted if the report leads to arrests (Article 13), and informants may receive up to 30% of the fine collected (Article 18).
Penalties
- Up to five years' imprisonment and up to SAR 5 million, or either, doubled for a repeat within three years (Article 9).
- Violations under Article 4: up to SAR 500,000 and closure for up to 90 days, challengeable before the Administrative Court within 60 days (Article 14).
A plain-language summary prepared by Al-Bayan Al-Wadih Law Firm, focused on the violations and problems that come up most in daily life. It is not a substitute for the official text or for legal advice.
What it covers
- The concealment offence
- Violations
- Penalties and repetition
- Exemption and informant reward
Timeline
- Issued: Royal Decree M/4 · 1/1/1442H
Full record of amendments and regulations at the official source
Official text at the Bureau of Experts
The authoritative text is in Arabic; the Bureau of Experts publishes English translations for some laws.
Full official text
The full official text is in Arabic and is reproduced on the Arabic version of this page, as published by the Bureau of Experts at the Council of Ministers. Read the full Arabic text
Library content is simplified general information for awareness only. It is not legal advice and does not replace the official text. Laws change: always check the official source and consult a lawyer before acting. Library data last reviewed: .