The Ministry of Commerce and Investment summoned the owners of 247 establishments found to be in violation during its inspection tours of commercial establishments in various regions of the Kingdom to ensure the legality of their operations and verify the availability of goods, products, food supplies, and petroleum products, The results of the Ministry’s inspections over the past two days—since the implementation of the value-added tax and the adjustment of energy prices through the end of yesterday evening (Monday)—included visits to 6,052 commercial establishments and the issuance of 247 violation notices against those establishments.

The violations observed by the Ministry’s inspectors included violations by shopping centers, markets, commercial stores, and gas stations, as well as gas stations that refused to sell fuel and failed to comply with the set prices; these establishments were required to supply consumers with petroleum products, and as a result, immediate fines were issued to all non-compliant commercial establishments.

The Ministry’s inspection teams continue to take all necessary precautions in cooperation with government agencies, including security authorities, under the supervision of the Joint Consumer Protection Operations Room to ensure rapid intervention in various regions of the Kingdom, conducting inspection tours, and responding to consumer complaints immediately, 24 hours a day. The Ministry also monitors its branches and offices in cities and provinces to detect and address any violations and take immediate regulatory action.

The Ministry emphasizes that it will not hesitate to impose statutory penalties on non-compliant commercial establishments and calls on all consumers to cooperate with it and report their complaints to the Ministry’s Complaint Center at (1900), or via the “Commercial Report” app or the Ministry’s website.