No, ticket scalping in Saudi Arabia violates the Anti-Commercial Fraud Law (Royal Decree M/11, 2006) and Consumer Protection Law (Royal Decree M/126, 2020), as resale above face value is deemed exploitative. The Saudi Authority for Intellectual Property (SAIP) and Saudi Standards, Metrology and Quality Organization (SASO) enforce these rules, with penalties including fines up to SAR 1 million and imprisonment. Recent 2026 amendments to the Anti-Price Manipulation Regulations further criminalize secondary market profiteering, particularly for high-demand events like sports or concerts.
Key Regulations for Scalping Tickets in Saudi Arabia
- Face Value Compliance: Resale at prices exceeding the original ticket cost is prohibited under Article 12 of the Consumer Protection Law, unless explicitly permitted by the event organizer.
- Authorized Platforms Only: The Ministry of Culture mandates ticket resale through licensed platforms (e.g., Etihad Ticketing or Ticketmaster KSA), with all transactions subject to SASO’s e-commerce regulations.
- Event-Specific Bans: For FIFA World Cup 2034 events, the Saudi Sports for All Federation (SFA) has imposed zero-tolerance policies, criminalizing scalping under Article 37 of the Sports Law (2023).