Anyone selling online in Saudi Arabia — through a full storefront or a commercial social media account — now faces one clear verification framework: the Saudi Business Center's Business.sa platform for e-stores, and the Mawthooq license from the General Authority of Media Regulation for anyone earning revenue from promotional content. This page sets out the path, requirements, and fees as stated in the sources, as part of the business section on Hala Law.
From Maroof to Business.sa: what changed?
The digital commerce environment was restructured extensively between 2023 and 2026. The legacy e-commerce trust platform, Maroof, was permanently retired, and the Ministry of Commerce mandated that all digital storefronts be verified directly through the SBC's Business.sa platform. Verification requires linking an active commercial bank account — a requirement introduced to combat financial fraud.
In parallel, the General Authority of Media Regulation (GAMR) introduced the Mawthooq licensing regime for advertising content: any individual or corporate entity generating revenue from promotional content on social media platforms — including X, Instagram, TikTok, and Snapchat — must hold a Mawthooq license.
Requirements for verification and licensing
| Track | Requirements per the official service page |
|---|---|
| E-store verification | Active commercial registration and a commercial bank IBAN |
| Mawthooq license | At least 18 years old; no criminal conviction for a crime of moral turpitude; no final decision from the Authority or the press-and-publication violations committees in the six months before the application; content published through the accounts in that period not in breach of the media content controls; a detailed description of the accounts with proof of ownership. A resident or foreign investor additionally needs an advertising-and-media-office licence and at least 50% ownership of the company |
If you do not yet hold a commercial registration, start with the issue a commercial registration page before this track.
Verification steps: the portal sequence
- Access the Saudi Business Center's Business.sa platform to verify the e-store.
- Link the active commercial registration and the commercial bank IBAN details.
- For advertising or promotional-content activity: apply through the GAMR portal (gmedia.gov.sa) for the Mawthooq license.
- Await review: the media regulator examines the applicant's social media history before issuing the permit.
The steps above reflect the last verification as of June 2026; labels and names may change as the platforms are updated.
Fees and timelines
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| E-store verification fee | SAR 0 |
| Mawthooq licence fee | SAR 15,000 |
| Mawthooq licence term | 3 years |
| Mawthooq duration of service | 30 working days |
The Mawthooq figures above are from the General Authority for Media Regulation's own service page as of 26 July 2026; fees and durations change with subsequent decisions.
Ad disclosure: an obligation, not an option
Failing to use the mandatory ad-disclosure markers — such as the Ad hashtag — or running advertisements through an account not registered with the Authority puts you inside the statutory penalty range. Under the Audiovisual Media Law (article 17) the fine ceiling is SAR 10 million, alongside suspension from practising the profession for up to six months or revocation of the licence. The same article provides that the fine is doubled where the violation is repeated, continues, or is not corrected within the Authority's deadline, and that the Authority may recover any financial benefit the violator obtained from the violation — so the revenue earned from an undisclosed advertisement is not itself safe. Under the E-Commerce Law (article 18) the ceiling is SAR 1 million, alongside suspension of e-commerce activity or partial or total blocking of the e-store.
Both laws penalise "anyone who violates" their provisions, so the exposure does not stop at the creator: an establishment contracting with an unlicensed or non-disclosing creator is inside the same statutory addressee.
After verification: connected obligations
E-store verification is one step in a wider framework. If your revenue approaches the tax registration thresholds, see VAT registration; when choosing the right legal form for an organized online business, the business entity types page maps the available structures.
When do you need a licensed lawyer or advisor?
The information above is a general framework, not an assessment of any specific case. The source classifies this transaction as one where applications can be filed independently, while noting that the scale of punitive exposure under the E-commerce Law and the Mawthooq framework leads many establishments to engage a compliance specialist, particularly brands procuring influencer services. Engaging a licensed lawyer or accredited advisor becomes most relevant when:
- Your advertising activity involves multiple parties (agencies, influencers, sponsorship contracts) and disclosure and liability clauses need review.
- A Mawthooq license is refused or verification is suspended, and you need to understand the decision and the objection routes.
- The matter intersects with an existing dispute or a recorded violation, where the position turns on facts and documents assessed case by case.