Saudi Arabia's trade achievements in 2025: 413,000 vehicles and products recalled
The Saudi Ministry of Commerce released its annual report for 2025, highlighting its extensive efforts in consumer protection and market regulation. The Ministry conducted 173 recall campaigns for defective products and goods, encompassing a total of 413,000 units. This included 284,000 defective vehicles and 129,000 consumer products, reflecting the regulatory authorities' commitment to the safety of citizens and residents.
Increased awareness and consumer protection
In the context of enhancing transparency, the Ministry explained that there has been a noticeable increase in consumer awareness regarding the importance of responding to recall campaigns. This was reflected in a 13% increase in the response rate to these campaigns compared to the previous year. This rise is attributed to the Ministry's ongoing awareness efforts to inform consumers of their rights to receive necessary repairs free of charge from companies and local agents, thus ensuring that the market remains free of any products that may pose a risk to public safety.
Key recalled products and field inspections
Electrical and electronic appliances topped the list of recalled goods, followed by household appliances and solar panels. The ministry continues to publish details of these campaigns through the "Defective Products Recall Center" website, a comprehensive digital platform designed to facilitate and track recall procedures.
In terms of field inspections, monitoring teams conducted over 539,000 inspection visits to commercial establishments across the Kingdom, in addition to more than 25,000 inspection visits specifically targeting online stores. These rigorous campaigns resulted in the seizure of over 10 million counterfeit products, underscoring the Ministry's commitment to combating commercial fraud and protecting trademarks and consumer rights.
E-commerce challenges and market growth
With the significant expansion of the e-commerce sector, the Ministry handled over 647,000 commercial complaints during the year. Notably, complaints related to online stores constituted the largest share at 41%, reflecting the digital shift in purchasing patterns and the ongoing need to regulate this growing market. Contractual disputes came in second at 11%, followed by complaints regarding exchanges and returns at 6%.
The impact of Vision 2030 on business growth
The Ministry's efforts were not limited to oversight; they were accompanied by significant growth in commercial activity. The Ministry announced the issuance of more than 486,000 new commercial registrations for companies and institutions during 2025, bringing the total number of active commercial registrations to over 1.8 million. This rapid growth is a direct reflection of the economic reforms and attractive investment environment created by the Kingdom's Vision 2030, which have contributed to stimulating promising sectors and encouraging entrepreneurship.
