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A big warning has emerged for expatriates running businesses in Saudi Arabia. The National Program to Combat Commercial Concealment has launched a big campaign against those running illegal businesses in the market. During April 2026, more than 6,500 places were investigated, in which many people were caught flouting the rules.

Which businesses and shops were raided?

The Saudi government targeted those businesses where there was suspicion of commercial concealment i.e. ‘Tasattur’. The investigation team visited different cities and inspected. This action mainly focused on these places:

• service apartment (Serviced Apartments)
• Car Tire Repair and Garage (Car maintenance and repair)
• Juice and cold drinks shops (Juice and beverage outlets)
• iron work workshop (Blacksmithing workshops)
• Decoration shops (Decoration works)
• Popular Cafe (Popular cafes)

After all these more than 6,500 visits, 170 such cases have been found which are suspected. Now all these cases have been sent to the concerned authorities for further legal action.

What punishment will be given to those who break the rules?

Commercial concealment is considered a serious crime in Saudi Arabia. The law is very strict for those who run a business secretly in the name of a Saudi citizen. If caught, the following penalties may apply:

This action is a lesson for all those migrants who are doing business against the rules. The aim of the government is to make the market transparent and completely eliminate illegal trade.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is Commercial Concealment (Tasattur) in Saudi Arabia?

This means when a non-Saudi person runs his business using the name and license of a Saudi citizen and shares the profits among themselves. This is illegal under Saudi law.

How many people were caught in the raid of April 2026?

The National Program to Combat Commercial Concealment conducted more than 6,500 inspections, resulting in 170 suspected cases.