The Saudi Ministry of Commerce announced the issuance of 1,987 licenses for discounts and promotional offers, targeting commercial establishments and online stores across the Kingdom. This announcement coincides with the launch of the "Ramadan Discounts" season, which officially began on the 13th of Sha'ban and is scheduled to continue until after Eid al-Fitr, thus covering the peak of the annual shopping season.

Details of licenses and products covered

The ministry explained in its statement that the issued licenses cover a wide range of products, exceeding 5 million, reflecting the anticipated volume of commercial activity. These products are diverse, encompassing all the needs of Saudi and resident families. Food and consumer goods topped the list due to high demand during the holy month, followed by electrical and electronic appliances, then perfumes and cosmetics, clothing and fashion, in addition to other miscellaneous luxury goods.

Context of the event and its economic importance

The month of Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr are among the most important commercial seasons in the Kingdom and the Arab region, witnessing exceptional market activity and a significant increase in purchasing power. The Ministry of Commerce's move to regulate and issue this number of licenses is part of a strategy aimed at controlling markets, preventing price manipulation, and ensuring the availability of goods in quantities that meet the growing demand. This regulation not only benefits consumers but also contributes to stimulating the economy and enabling merchants to sell their inventory in a systematic and transparent manner.

Technical empowerment and consumer protection

In its commitment to protecting consumer rights and preventing deceptive offers, the Ministry of Commerce has implemented modern technology to verify the legitimacy of discounts. Shoppers can now instantly confirm the legality and validity of discounts by scanning the QR code found on the discount permit displayed in stores or on websites. This allows consumers to access all the offer's details, including the type of discount, its actual percentage, its duration, and the licensing information of the establishment, thus enhancing transparency and trust in commercial transactions.

Continuous monitoring and market stability

The Ministry affirmed that these regulatory efforts are complemented by intensive and ongoing field inspection tours of commercial establishments across the Kingdom. These tours aim to verify that stores adhere to approved regulations and requirements, and to ensure the absence of any misleading business practices. The Ministry also highlighted the streamlined procedures for establishments wishing to participate, noting that applications for discount permits can be submitted electronically through the dedicated website. This enhances the range of choices available to consumers and supports price stability during this crucial season.

Minister of Municipalities and Housing, Majid Al-Hogail, revealed a qualitative leap in municipal performance indicators, as the percentage of residents’ satisfaction with municipal services rose from 49% to 65%, while the percentage of satisfaction with the cleanliness of cities rose from 53% to 76%, thanks to the digital transformation and re-engineering of procedures adopted by the ministry.

Strategic shift in city management

This came during the minister's meeting with academics and students at King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals in Riyadh, where he emphasized that the ministry is no longer content with developing traditional services, but has moved to a stage of "re-engineering the way we think" and decision-making. He explained that this transformation has contributed to reducing the percentage of waste treated using unsanitary methods from 64% to 49%, reflecting the Kingdom's commitment to environmental sustainability standards.

Against the backdrop of this movement, this development aligns with the objectives of "Vision 2030" and the Quality of Life Program, which aim to transform Saudi cities into smart, sustainable cities that compete globally. After decades of relying on traditional management, the Kingdom is witnessing an organizational revolution based on big data to reduce bureaucracy and increase the efficiency of government spending.

Digital twins and innovation labs

Al-Haqil noted that the ministry is working on developing "Digital Twin" for cities, an advanced technology that allows for the virtual simulation of future scenarios before their implementation. This technology aims to support proactive, data-driven decision-making, thereby enhancing operational efficiency and ensuring resource sustainability.

He added that the ministry is working to establish national laboratories for artificial intelligence applications, ranging from generative urban design to the use of computer vision-enabled drones. This approach not only accelerates the transfer of innovation from university labs to the streets but also ensures the responsible and ethical application of modern technologies.

Economic and operational impact

On the economic front, the minister explained that the adoption of modern technologies such as smart monitoring has yielded tangible results, including:

• Raising the compliance rate to 64%.
• Reduced operating costs by a staggering 80%.
• Reducing reliance on in-person reviews for beneficiaries to only 2%.
• Achieving operational savings exceeding 250 million riyals as a result of improving the quality of road layers.

This transformation is of paramount importance both regionally and internationally, as the Kingdom presents a pioneering model of "cognitive cities" that proactively manage vast assets. These assets include more than 8,000 parks and public squares, and a road network spanning over 196,000 kilometers. This model enhances the attractiveness of Saudi cities to foreign investment and improves their ranking in global competitiveness indices.

Partnership with the academic sector

Al-Haqil emphasized that universities, particularly King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals and King Saud University, are not merely educational institutions, but strategic partners in this transformation. He noted that collaboration with universities has resulted in the adoption of 19 design guidelines and the establishment of a foundation for Saudi architecture, thus enhancing the quality of the urban landscape.

The minister concluded his remarks by emphasizing that the ministry’s ambition is to build an integrated national model that combines knowledge and decision-making, driven by the power of artificial intelligence, to achieve sustainable urban development that serves future generations.

The Ministry of Tourism announced today (Sunday) the launch of the new "self-inspection" service through its official website, in a step aimed at raising the readiness of tourist establishments and enabling investors to assess the level of their establishments' compliance with the approved regulations and bylaws on a self-assessment basis.

Empowering investors and enhancing compliance

The ministry explained that this service is part of its ongoing efforts to develop its digital services system and facilitate the investor journey in the tourism sector. The new digital service allows tourism business owners a proactive opportunity to assess their establishments' compliance with the ministry's regulations, standards, and official requirements before official inspectors visit.

The ministry confirmed that the self-inspection mechanism enables those in charge of tourism activities to conduct a comprehensive survey covering all operational aspects, including the quality of facilities and strict adherence to safety and hygiene standards, thus ensuring a safe and comfortable environment for visitors.

Supporting digital transformation in the tourism sector

This initiative falls under the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's digital transformation strategy across various government sectors, with the Ministry of Tourism aiming to automate procedures and reduce paperwork and bureaucracy. The launch of this service is part of a package of facilitations designed to create an attractive and transparent investment environment, helping investors rectify their situations immediately and avoid violations, thus strengthening the principle of partnership between the public and private sectors.

Keeping pace with the goals of the Kingdom's Vision 2030

Strategically, this measure is of paramount importance in achieving the goals of the Kingdom's Vision 2030 and the National Tourism Strategy, which aim to make the Kingdom a leading global tourist destination. With the anticipated increase in tourist and visitor numbers, maintaining high quality standards becomes essential to ensuring a distinctive tourist experience.

The self-inspection service directly contributes to improving the customer experience, as establishments' adherence to standards increases satisfaction among both domestic and international tourists. The service also aims to enhance the operational efficiency of establishments, which positively impacts the reputation of the Saudi tourism sector as a whole and strengthens its competitiveness regionally and internationally.