Saudi Arabia shuts 124 businesses in Riyadh in sweeping safety crackdown

Dubai: Saudi authorities have closed 124 businesses in Riyadh after an intensive inspection campaign in the densely populated Manfouha district, seizing thousands of unsafe products and shuttering food outlets following a surge of consumer complaints, Okaz Arabic daily reported.

The ongoing campaign, launched by municipal authorities, backed by security forces and several government agencies, has so far resulted in the closure of 124 establishments, the issuance of 812 violations, cutting power at 11 sites, the confiscation of 52 street-vendor carts, and the destruction of nearly 32,000 unfit products. Inspectors also disposed of 143 kilograms of tobacco and roughly six tons of spoiled food.

According to municipal officials, the raids uncovered a series of dangerous violations: rotten meat being sold to the public, counterfeit tobacco of unknown origin, expired personal care products, unhygienic storage that left food vulnerable to contamination, and residential homes converted into makeshift warehouses.

“The violations we have seen pose a direct threat to public health,” the municipality said in a statement, noting that penalties have ranged from written warnings to steep fines and outright closures of businesses deemed hazardous.

The crackdown is part of a broader, proactive monitoring plan that includes daily inspections in high-traffic commercial areas. Authorities said technology is being used to document violations in real time, allowing for swift intervention and follow-up checks to ensure compliance.

The campaign was partly prompted by complaints filed through the “Madinaty” mobile app, which allows residents to submit reports with photos and GPS locations. Officials stressed that community participation is vital to the success of such operations, describing the reporting system as a partnership between residents and the city to preserve food safety, urban quality of life and Riyadh’s long-term development goals.