Saudi Arabia launches a 54-day Ramadan sales season/Representative Image
As preparations for Ramadan begin to gather pace, the Ministry of Commerce has announced the launch of the Ramadan sales season, a nationwide initiative designed to help consumers shop early and ease pressure during the peak festive period. The sales season will run for 54 days, starting on February 1 and continuing until March 26, 2026.The timing of the campaign has been aligned with the Islamic calendar as well, beginning on Shaban 13 and concluding on Shawwal 7. By extending the sales window well beyond the end of Ramadan and through Eid Al-Fitr, the ministry aims to reduce last-minute congestion in markets and allow households to plan their purchases in a more relaxed manner.The Ramadan sales season covers a wide range of products linked to the holy month and the subsequent Eid celebrations. This includes all Ramadan-related goods as well as Eid necessities, ensuring that consumers can access discounts across essential categories throughout the period, rather than being limited to a short festive window.Also Read: Ramadan 2026: Expected dates, fasting hours, and seasonal shifts explainedTo support businesses, the Ministry of Commerce has invited retail establishments and online stores to participate by applying for discount permits electronically through the official platform sales.mc.gov.sa. The ministry clarified that taking part in the Ramadan sales season will not deduct from an establishment’s annual discount balance. This means businesses can obtain, print, and display official permits without losing any of their allocated discount days for the year, making participation simpler and more flexible.Consumer transparency is a key part of the initiative. Shoppers can verify the authenticity of discounts by scanning the barcode displayed on the official permit using their mobile phone camera. Once scanned, the system provides complete information about the offer, including the type and percentage of the discount, its duration, and basic details of the establishment offering it.The ministry also confirmed that inspection teams will conduct field tours across all regions of the Kingdom throughout the sales season. These inspections are aimed at monitoring compliance, verifying the legitimacy of promotional offers, and ensuring that advertised discounts match the information approved under the official permits.
