Inspection blitz uncovers fraud, overpricing across two governorates

2026-03-19 - 13:02

In a forceful show of regulatory authority, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry launched a sweeping inspection campaign targeting shops and women’s salons across the Capital and Mubarak Al-Kabeer governorates, uncovering widespread violations and issuing a total of 45 official citations, alongside three formal notices for breaches of licensed activities. The ministry revealed in a statement on Thursday that its emergency inspection teams in Mubarak Al-Kabeer spearheaded a rigorous field operation, resulting in 39 violations. The most alarming offenses included blatant disregard for mandated price controls, with several retailers caught inflating prices beyond officially approved limits — an act seen as a direct challenge to market regulations and consumer protection laws. Additionally, three notices were issued for non-compliance with licensed business activities. Meanwhile, in the Capital Governorate, inspectors turned their focus to women’s salons, where six violations were recorded. These ranged from inconsistencies between declared and actual prices on invoices to clear instances of commercial fraud, raising serious concerns over transparency and ethical business practices. The ministry underscored that decisive legal measures have been enacted against all offenders, reaffirming its unwavering commitment to enforcing market discipline, safeguarding consumers, and ensuring strict adherence to pricing and commercial regulations.