Telecommunications and Information Technology Law

Purpose and scope

• Regulates the telecommunications and IT sector, aiming to develop it, improve services, protect users and promote competition (Article 2); the ministry oversees it (Article 3) and the Communications, Space and Technology Commission regulates it.

Key rules, rights and obligations

• A licence from the Commission is required before providing telecom and IT services and similar activities (Article 5); it may refuse renewal, cancel or suspend if violations are not remedied within the set time (Article 6).
• An infrastructure provider must agree with the property owner before installing equipment or networks, and restore the property once work ends (Article 18).
• A dominant provider may not abuse its position, and providers may not agree on practices restricting competition (Articles 21 and 22).
• Providers must protect the confidentiality of users' information and documents, disclose them only with consent as the law allows, and act when they are breached (Article 23).

Violations, penalties and common problems

• Violations include dealing in unlicensed equipment or services, operating before licensing, giving misleading information, obstructing inspectors, misusing services, damaging or tampering with networks, and holding telecom equipment without a licence (Article 26).
• Penalties: a fine of up to twenty-five million riyals, full or partial suspension of the service, a bar from licensing for a set period, or blocking a digital content platform; a decision takes effect on notification (Article 27).

Procedures and key deadlines

• Commission inspectors record violations and the Commission may suspend a service as a precaution (Article 25); a committee hears violations and imposes penalties (Article 28).
• A person affected by a Commission decision may complain to the minister under the procedures for challenging administrative decisions (Article 29).

An advisory summary prepared by Al-Bayan Al-Wadih Law Firm. It is not an official text and does not replace the law, its implementing regulations, or advice from a specialised lawyer. The official published text and its amendments prevail.