Saudi Arabia advertising rules for Meta and Google ads (2026)
Saudi Arabia regulates ads through media, consumer protection and sector regulators. Ads are banned for gambling and sports betting, alcohol, tobacco, vapes and nicotine, weight loss and glp-1. Investing, trading, forex and CFDs, Healthcare, pharmacy and telehealth, Supplements, Real estate need a permit or licence first. Influencers and creators face their own licensing and disclosure rules.
General ad rules in Saudi Arabia
Media regulator content guidelines ban: inappropriate language, showing off wealth or cars, filming children or domestic workers in daily content, invading family privacy, bullying, revealing clothing, misleading information.
In force: 2025-09-21 · Penalty: Regulatory action (amounts not stated) · lexis.ae (summary)
E-Commerce Law bans false or misleading claims and requires ads to be clearly labelled as ads. Disclaimers like 'this is not an advertisement' on paid content are a violation.
Penalty: Up to SAR 1m, site closure, trading ban · zawya.com (summary)
National Arabic Language Policy encourages Arabic in ads and signage. For private firms it is guidance rather than a standalone enforcement tool.
cms.law (summary)
No content offending national security, public morals or the Kingdom's reputation. Promoted products must themselves be licensed.
clydeco.com (summary)
Influencer and creator rules
Mawthooq licence (issued by GCAM, now the General Authority for Media Regulation) is needed for social media ads: SAR 15,000 for 3 years. Ads must be flagged as ads.
In force: 2022-10-01 · Penalty: Up to SAR 5m reported for unlicensed activity · clydeco.com (summary)
Mawthooq penalties and resident scope
hmco.com.sa (summary)
Non-Saudi residents may not post ads online without an advertising licence.
In force: 2022-06-07 · digitalpolicyalert.org (summary)
Rules by industry
Loans, credit and BNPL Allowed with rules
- SAMA Rules for Advertising Products and Services of Financial Institutions (circular 2023-03-05, 60-day compliance)
- No credit or insurance ads aimed at under-18s
- Free products must be stated explicitly, with the target group
- Foreign-currency pricing needs an FX-risk statement
- No SAMA emblem
- Prior written or electronic consent before sending ads, with an easy opt-out
Risky phrases: free
مجاناً
no fees
بدون رسوم
Insurance Allowed with rules
- SAMA advertising rules apply. No insurance ads unsuitable for under-18s.
Investing, trading, forex and CFDs Permit required
- Securities advice and promotion need a CMA licence. CMA has fined unlicensed investment advisors.
Tobacco, vapes and nicotine Banned
- Anti-Smoking Law (Royal Decree M/56) and 2017 Executive Regulations ban most tobacco advertising, including at point of sale
- Tobacco Control Laws database says e-cigarette ads are not restricted, but GAMR has acted against influencers who promoted smoking
Healthcare, pharmacy and telehealth Permit required
- Prescription medicines may not be advertised to the public (Art. 36 of the Implementing Regulations of the Pharmaceutical and Herbal Establishments and Products Law)
- SFDA pre-approval for OTC and health product ads: SAR 14,000 per ad, and the product must be listed with SFDA
- No claims SFDA has not certified, no denigrating other products
Risky phrases: cure
علاج / يشفي
clinically proven (uncertified)
Penalties: Up to SAR 5m, closure up to 180 days, licence revocation, recall
Real estate Permit required
- A separate REGA ad licence before each property ad is published
- Ad shows description, condition, location, advertiser name and licence number, or a QR code
- Remove the ad when the permit expires
- Platforms must integrate with REGA and block unlicensed listings
- Licensed developers marketing whole projects are exempt if they show their licence numbers
- New rules replace the 2021 rules
Penalties: Under the Brokerage Law executive regulations
E-commerce and retail Allowed with rules
- E-Commerce Law: ads clearly identified as ads, no misleading claims
Penalties: Up to SAR 1m
Arabic words that raise red flags
Arabic versions of common risky claims. These are standard translations, not words taken from regulator texts. The policy checker scans Arabic copy for them.
| Arabic | Meaning | Why it's risky |
|---|---|---|
| مضمون | guaranteed | guarantee |
| ضمان | guarantee | guarantee |
| أرباح مضمونة | guaranteed profits | guaranteed returns |
| عائد مضمون | guaranteed return | guaranteed returns |
| بدون مخاطر | without risk | risk-free |
| خالٍ من المخاطر | risk-free | risk-free |
| آمن تماماً | completely safe | safe claim |
| علاج | cure/treatment | cure |
| يشفي | heals/cures | cure |
| شفاء تام | complete recovery | guaranteed recovery |
| معجزة | miracle | miracle |
| سحري | magic | magic remedy |
| مجاني / مجاناً | free | free |
| ١٠٠٪ | 100% | 100% |
| الأفضل | the best | superlative |
| رقم ١ / الأول | number one | superlative/ranking |
| الأكثر أماناً | safest | superlative |
| الأسرع | fastest | superlative |
| فريد من نوعه | one of a kind | exclusivity |
| حصري | exclusive | exclusivity |
| نتائج فورية | instant results | instant results |
| خسارة الوزن بسرعة | lose weight fast | rapid weight loss |
| تخسيس | slimming | weight loss |
| حرق الدهون | fat burning | weight loss |
| بدون آثار جانبية | no side effects | no side effects |
| بدون وصفة طبية | without prescription | Rx drug promotion |
| معتمد من وزارة الصحة | approved by Ministry of Health | unverified approval claim |
| طبيعي ١٠٠٪ | 100% natural | natural claim |
| قبل وبعد | before and after | before/after imagery |
| موافقة فورية | instant approval | instant approval |
| بدون فوائد | interest-free | 0% interest |
| بدون كفيل | no guarantor needed | easy credit |
| بدون أوراق | no documents | easy credit |
| ثراء سريع | get rich quick | get rich quick |
| دخل سلبي | passive income | investment hype |
| لفترة محدودة | limited time | false urgency |
| لا تفوّت الفرصة | don't miss the chance | FOMO/urgency |
| اربح نقداً | win cash | gambling |
| مراهنات / رهان | betting / bet | gambling |
| كازينو | casino | gambling |
| يانصيب | lottery | gambling (licensed only in UAE) |
| كحول / مشروبات كحولية | alcohol / alcoholic drinks | alcohol |
| سجائر إلكترونية / فيب | e-cigarettes / vape | tobacco/vape |
| تبييض البشرة | skin whitening | cosmetic claim |
Notes
GCAM was renamed the General Authority for Media Regulation (gmedia.gov.sa). The 2025 guidelines on modest dress and no showing off wealth affect creative choices.
Plan a launch in Saudi Arabia Check ad copy
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A guide, not legal advice. Rules change often and some sources are law-firm or news summaries. Check the linked source before you launch. Data last checked 5 October 2026.