The National Program for Combating the Commercial Concealment has conducted 71,484 inspection visits in the first half of the current year to businesses Kingdom-wide suspected of practicing concealment.
The visits were carried out using data acquired from 20 interconnected government agencies, which used AI technology to evaluate the data and identify potential instances of concealment and punish offenders.
The visits covered various activities and economic sectors, most notably: contracting and construction sector, wholesale and retail, fabrics, clothing, gold and Jewelry, transport, logistics, agricultural activities, auto maintenance workshops, spare parts outlets, etc.
The Anti-Concealment Law lays out punitive punishments for violators that can include up to five years in prison, a fine of up to five million riyals, as well as the seizure and confiscation of the culprits' illegal funds after final judgments have been handed down against them. The commercial register may be revoked, the business may be shut down, and the activity may be liquidated. The convicted person may not engage in any economic activity for a period of five years. Foreign nationals will be deported and forbidden from working in the Kingdom again.