Saudi Commerce Ministry tells consumers to know their rights

Lockdown led to more online shoppers. (SPA)
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Updated 29 June 2020
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Saudi Commerce Ministry tells consumers to know their rights

  • Consumers are allowed to cancel their orders and get a full refund when a shipment is delayed by more than 15 days

JEDDAH: With the rise of online shopping in Saudi Arabia as an easier and faster way for people to get what they need, especially during these uncertain times, consumers’ rights have never been clearer.

Shopping online has gained a wider audience in the past few months due to the closure of stores during the coronavirus pandemic. But customers face difficulties due to delayed shipments, the delivery of faulty items, paying full price for packages with missing items and companies refusing to return shipments. These problems, and others, prove to be a major headache for shoppers.

The Saudi Ministry of Commerce and Investment (MCI) has set four recommendations to protect online consumers, informing them of their rights before purchasing items online and recommending them to purchase from online stores that have secured commercial registration numbers or are registered on the ministry’s e-commerce platform “Maroof.”

Consumers are allowed to cancel their orders and get a full refund when a shipment is delayed by more than 15 days. They have the right to return or exchange items purchased within seven days if they are unused, excluding items that have been specially designed or manufactured for the buyer. Food, vehicles and property are also excluded.

The ministry also says that online stores must inform buyers if there is a delay in shipment and must specify a deadline for the delivery of items.

Finally, consumers have 24 hours to make adjustments to their order if they notice a mistake in it through the online store’s official channels.

Private sector worker Zainab Mohammed was inconvenienced while shopping online from a large retail chain, which delayed her shipment for over two months. She had ordered the items before the full lockdown and the closure of all commercial activity in the Kingdom.

HIGHLIGHT

The ministry says that online stores must inform buyers if there is a delay in shipment and must specify a deadline for the delivery of items.

“I knew the implications of going to the store myself as we were recommended to stay indoors and only allowed out to shop for groceries at the time,” she told Arab News. “I didn’t find the need to go to a mall so I opted to shop online and the store emailed me a delivery date of two weeks after the initial purchase.”

The deadline came and went and she tried contacting their customer service over and over, emailing them at least 10 times to ask about her purchase. But there was no answer. “Delivery companies were hit hard at the time due to the lockdown but the relevant authorities provided them with the right permits to continue their deliveries, so there was no excuse,” she said. “A month passed and still no answer and I delayed making a complaint.”

She reached boiling point when, two months later, she had yet to receive a proper answer from the store. It insisted that the order was in between two shipping companies due to the disruption caused by the government stopping the services of their main delivery company.

“It was inexcusable. They refused to cancel my order, they declined to provide me with a delivery date and they also declined to provide me with a shipment number. I was sympathetic for a while due to the heavy load they faced, but I still have my rights and they took advantage of my silence, so I made an official complaint through the MCI’s application of a Commercial Violation Report.”

She filled in the complaint form and received her order within 72 hours. Online stores needed to understand that consumers had rights and that they (the stores) were not the only ones affected by the lockdown, she added. “A little understanding goes a long way but what they did was take advantage of the situation and abuse it,” she said, praising the ministry’s swift action.

Consumers can inquire about the use of the MCI’s services on its website or consumer call center on 1900.


Japan gifts Kendo equipment to Saudi Olympic and Paralympic Committee

Updated 6 sec ago
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Japan gifts Kendo equipment to Saudi Olympic and Paralympic Committee

  • Embassy says gift is part of 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations
  • Occasion also being marked with expansion of cultural relations

RIYADH: Japan has gifted the Saudi Olympic and Paralympic Committee with Kendo equipment as part of celebrations marking the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two nations.

Formal diplomatic ties were first established on June 7, 1955, laying the foundations for a long-standing partnership.

To mark the occasion, Japanese ambassador Yasunari Morino attended a handover ceremony on Wednesday at the Riyadh Olympic Training Center, where approximately 20 shinai (bamboo swords) and 10 complete sets of Kendo armor were officially donated to the SOPC. 

Morino expressed his hope the donation would help increase the popularity of Kendo in Saudi Arabia and provide more opportunities for young Saudi athletes to engage with Japanese martial arts.

“I was happy to join the Olympic Day event organized by the Olympic Committee with many people, young and senior, participating. I hope Saudi people will enjoy practicing various sports, including Japanese martial arts,” the ambassador told Arab News.

Kendo, which translates as “The Way of the Sword,” is a discipline rooted in samurai traditions and is practiced widely in Japan and around the world. The Kingdom’s growing interest in Japanese martial arts reflects the deepening of cultural ties between the two nations, said the embassy.

The donation was enabled by the generous support of the All Japan Kendo Federation. As well as promoting Kendo, it is hoped it will foster greater mutual understanding and cultural exchange through sports between Japan and Saudi Arabia.

The ceremony was one of several initiatives organized by the Embassy of Japan throughout 2025 to commemorate the 70th anniversary. The Saudi Arabia Pavilion at Expo 2025 in Osaka also marks the occasion.

It is hoped the expo will help the Kingdom reach its goal of attracting 30,000 Japanese visitors annually in the lead up to Expo 2030, which is due to take place in Riyadh.


Henry Jackson Society hosts talks with secretary-general of the Muslim World League in London

The Henry Jackson Society hosted a dialogue with Mohammed bin Abdulkarim Al-Issa, secretary-general of MWL, in London.
Updated 27 min 58 sec ago
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Henry Jackson Society hosts talks with secretary-general of the Muslim World League in London

  • Meeting touched on Islam’s message of dialogue, promoting understanding and coexistence among countries and peoples

RIYADH: The Henry Jackson Society hosted a dialogue with Mohammed bin Abdulkarim Al-Issa, secretary-general and chairman of the Muslim World League, at its headquarters in London.

The meeting touched on Islam’s message of dialogue, promoting understanding and coexistence among countries and peoples, particularly among the diverse communities in multicultural societies.

Al-Issa commended the British Muslim community for its respect for the law, its commitment to social cohesion, and its active engagement in the United Kingdom.

He said that this positive impact has been well documented in reports issued by the Muslim World League and affirmed by senior British officials during official meetings.

He noted that the British Muslim community ranks among the four largest in Europe and, more recently, the most prominent among Muslim minorities in Western countries, distinguished not only by its population size but also by its growing presence in senior government positions.

The discussion underscored the important influence of a mindful family, quality education, and accountable media in cultivating awareness, reinforcing sound thinking, and combating harmful, misleading, and extremist ideologies.

He noted that during a meeting with King Charles at Buckingham Palace, he conveyed the greetings and appreciation of Muslim scholars and intellectuals affiliated with the Muslim World League.

Al-Issa commended the British monarch’s thoughtful and sincere perspective on Islam, particularly in light of increasing Islamophobia and hostile campaigns driven by ideological extremism.

Al-Issa said that Islam is best represented through its message of moderation, conveyed by its leading official institutions.

The Muslim World League is the voice of Muslim communities worldwide and was the sponsor of the historic “Makkah Document” — a pivotal contemporary Islamic charter endorsed by more than 1,200 leading muftis and scholars.

At a March 2023 conference in London, British Muslims described the document as a foundational religious charter, reflecting the scholarly consensus of the Islamic world under the MWL umbrella, and carrying profound significance because it was issued from Makkah, the spiritual heart of Islam and home of the Kaaba.

The secretary-general of the MWL said in a statement that “the Organization of Islamic Cooperation serves as a voice for Islam from the standpoint of the Islamic nations.”


Head of Iran’s Hajj organization commends Saudi Arabia for quality services

Updated 25 June 2025
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Head of Iran’s Hajj organization commends Saudi Arabia for quality services

  • Iranian pilgrims happy with services provided after completing Hajj rituals

RIYADH: The head of Iran’s Hajj and Pilgrimage Organization, Alireza Bayat, has commended Saudi Arabia for its organization and the facilities provided to pilgrims during the Hajj season 2025.

He said Iranian pilgrims expressed satisfaction with the quality of services upon completing the Hajj rituals and complimented the efficiency of the Saudi authorities in operating air transport, crowd management at the holy sites and healthcare services.

Bayat added the Kingdom had become a role model when serving Muslim worshippers and pilgrims at the two holy mosques in Makkah and Madinah.


Saudi students’ experiments launched to International Space Station

Updated 25 June 2025
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Saudi students’ experiments launched to International Space Station

  • Ten experiments designed by students from Saudi Arabia and across the Arab world were included in the launch
  • Space Madak competition was set up to support and encourage those who are fascinated by space science and technology

RIYADH: Saudi students’ winning entries from the “Space Madak” competition were launched to the International Space Station on Wednesday morning, the Saudi Space Agency announced.

The launch was part of an international mission that lifted off from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, United States.

Ten experiments designed by students from Saudi Arabia and across the Arab world were included in the launch — a landmark event that reflects the Kingdom’s push to advance scientific innovation and empower young talents in the space industry.

The “Space Madak” competition was set up to support and encourage those who are fascinated by space science and technology and are eager to learn how to turn their ideas into practical scientific applications in the microgravity environment aboard the ISS.

The competition, an initiative by the agency in partnership with the Misk Foundation and the Ilmi Science Discovery and Innovation Center, consisted of three categories: “Art: Bezel of Inspiration,” open to ages 6-11; “Agriculture: Bezel of Growth,” open to ages 12-14; and “Engineering: Bezel of Innovation,” open to ages 15-18.

More than 80,000 students participated from across the Arab world.

At the launch of the competition in February last year, Rayyanah Barnawi, the first female Saudi astronaut and supervisor of the competition, said that it was bound to expand the horizons of ambitious young minds and fuel their creativity.

The competition presented a “unique opportunity for students in the Arab world to participate in a journey of discovery and innovation,” she said.

Barnawi was selected by the agency to join Axiom Mission 2 in May 2023, and with fellow Saudi astronaut Ali Al-Qarni, conducted 14 experiments on the ISS — 11 on research in a microgravity environment focused on human health, cell sciences, and cloud seeding, and three interactive educational experiments with students in the Kingdom.

The achievement by the students is a reflection of the Saudi Space Agency’s efforts to fortify the Kingdom’s presence in international space programs and to promote an environment that supports a knowledge-based economy, in accordance with Vision 2030 goals of preparing a generation capable of becoming active contributors in the future of the space sector.


New climate study to shield the Two Holy Mosques from extreme weather

Updated 25 June 2025
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New climate study to shield the Two Holy Mosques from extreme weather

  • Study seeks sustainable solutions for extreme weather phenomena while supporting quality-of-life improvements
  • Includes analyzing climate effects on urban infrastructure and studying extreme weather patterns

RIYADH: The Regional Centre for Climate Change has launched an advanced scientific study to analyze the effects of climate change on urban environments in Makkah and Madinah, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Wednesday.

The study seeks sustainable solutions for extreme weather phenomena while supporting quality-of-life improvements in these religiously significant regions with unique urban planning requirements.

These include analyzing climate effects on urban infrastructure and studying extreme weather patterns through modern climate modeling techniques. The initiative also uses data to optimize urban planning and propose resilience solutions to ensure visitor safety and comfort at the Two Holy Mosques.

Ayman Salem Ghulam, the CEO of the Saudi National Center for Meteorology and general supervisor of the RCCC, said that this research is a fundamental pillar supporting adaptation strategies to climate variables for the Two Holy Mosques.

He said that the centers are committed to providing scientific solutions to enhance future projects’ efficiency at both holy cities.

Mazen Assiri, executive director of RCCC detailed the methodology, saying that the integrated scientific approach analyzes weather phenomena affecting urban environments, incorporating international best practices to deliver outputs that align with national development requirements.

He said that to ensure comprehensive solutions, the center held workshops with government and research entities, performed field studies in central Makkah and Madinah, and analyzed practical implementation pathways.

This initiative aligns with the RCCC’s mission to advance specialized climate knowledge and data-driven decision-making. It directly supports environmental sustainability in major developmental projects throughout the Kingdom, particularly those accommodating millions of pilgrims annually.

The study reinforces national efforts to address climate challenges in strategically vital regions while enhancing institutional cooperation in climate resilience planning.