- Competition Law
- Article One
- Article Two
- Article Three
- Article Four
- Article Five
- Article Six
- Article Seven
- Article Eight
- Article Nine
- Article Ten
- Article Eleven
- Article Twelve
- Article Thirteen
- Article Fourteen
- Article Fifteen
- Article Sixteen
- Article Seventeen
- Article Eighteen
- Article Nineteen
- Article Twenty
- Article Twenty One
Article One:
This Law aims to protect and encourage fair competition and combat monopolistic practices that affect lawful competition.
Article Two:
Whenever they occur in this Law, the following terms shall have the meanings expressed next to them unless the context indicates otherwise:
Firm: Factory, corporation or company owned by natural or corporate person(s), and all groupings practicing commercial, agricultural, industrial or service activities, or selling and purchasing commodities or services.
Market: Place or means where a group of current and prospective buyers and venders meet during a specific period of time.
Domination: A situation where a firm or a group of firms are able to influence the market prevailing price through controlling a certain percentage of the total supply of a commodity or service in the industry of its business. The Regulations shall specify this percentage according to criteria which include the market structure, the easiness of market entry by other firms, and any other criteria determined by the Council.
Merger: Amalgamating a firm with another or the amalgamation of two or more firms into a new one.
Council: Council of Competition Protection.
Ministry: Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
Minister: Minister of Commerce and Industry.
Regulations: Implementing Regulations of this Law.
Article Three:
Provisions of this Law shall apply to all firms working in Saudi markets except public corporations and wholly-owned state companies.
Article Four:
Practices, agreements or contracts among current or potential competing firms, whether the contracts are written or verbal, expressed or implied shall be prohibited, if the objective of such practices, agreements or contracts, or consequent impact thereof is the restriction of commerce or violation of competition among firms. A firm or firms enjoying a dominant status shall also be banned from carrying out any practice which restricts competition among firms, in accordance with the conditions and rules specified in the Regulations, especially the following:
The Council may choose not to apply provisions of this Article to practices and agreements in violation of competition which are believed to improve the performance of firms and realize a benefit for the consumer exceeding the effects of restricting freedom of competition, as specified by the conditions and rules in the Regulations.
Article Five:
A firm enjoying a dominant status shall be banned from any practice restricting competition, as specified by the Regulations, including:
Article Six:
Article Seven:
The firm referred to in Article Six of this Law may complete the procedures of merger, acquisition or combining two or more managements into one joint management in the following cases:
Article Eight:
3. The term of membership in the Council shall be four years renewable for one term. The Council member shall remain in his post upon expiration of his term until a successor is appointed.
4. The Council shall convene headed by the chairman or whomever he deputizes of the members and with the attendance of two thirds of the members. Council’s decisions shall be taken by majority vote, and in case of equal votes, the chairman shall have the casting vote.
5. Council members may not disclose any information they obtain as a result of their membership in the Council.
6. A Council member may not participate in the deliberation of any case or subject matter in which he has an interest or with which he has a relation, or if he is related by blood or marriage to any of the parties involved, or if he has represented any of the parties concerned.
Article Nine:
Subject to provisions of other laws, the Council shall have jurisdiction over the following tasks:
Article Ten:
The Council shall have a general secretariat presided over by a secretary general of the Fifteenth Grade. The Council shall be provided with all necessary facilities and specialized experts.
Article Eleven:
Competition Law