Riyadh Municipality Adopts New Approach to Boost Business Compliance

An employee of “Ejada” performs inspection duties at a commercial shop. Asharq Al-Awsat
An employee of “Ejada” performs inspection duties at a commercial shop. Asharq Al-Awsat
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Riyadh Municipality Adopts New Approach to Boost Business Compliance

An employee of “Ejada” performs inspection duties at a commercial shop. Asharq Al-Awsat
An employee of “Ejada” performs inspection duties at a commercial shop. Asharq Al-Awsat

Riyadh Municipality has introduced a new model for inspection and oversight aimed at promoting compliance culture and raising awareness of regulatory laws among targeted institutions.

The initiative aims to ease financial burdens on businesses, ensuring their sustainability in the market.

In 2018, Riyadh Municipality launched the “Ejada” initiative in line with Vision 2030’s municipal transformation goals to enhance oversight of municipal services. However, its previous focus on fines to increase revenue burdened small and medium-sized enterprises.

Acknowledging this, Riyadh Governor Prince Faisal bin Ayyaf stated that the current approach shifts towards incentivizing compliance rather than solely relying on fines, aiming to boost returns for companies and compliance rates.

Prince Faisal bin Ayyaf recently announced the “Muthal” municipal compliance program to enhance service quality in Riyadh’s health and commercial sectors, leveraging digital technologies.

Emphasizing sustainable development, Riyadh Municipality aims to strengthen the business environment, support the private sector, and promote compliance through partnerships, ensuring regulatory quality and stakeholder satisfaction, aligned with the Kingdom’s national transformation plan, Vision 2030.

Economic experts believe the new model will ease financial pressures on businesses while encouraging better compliance with municipal regulations.

Ahmed Al-Jubeir, an economic specialist, noted to Asharq Al-Awsat that previous oversight lacked preventive measures and awareness, primarily relying on fines.

The new model encourages cooperation with monitors and compliance with regulations, fostering sustainable private sector development.

Al-Jubeir further indicated that the new model will incentivize the private sector and reduce financial burdens on establishments in the labor market.

On the other hand, Ahmed Al-Shahri, a policy expert, clarified to Asharq Al-Awsat that the new program ensures improved regulatory processes, enhances service quality, boosts awareness, and compliance rates of establishments, employing state-of-the-art technologies.

This aligns with municipal transformation initiatives derived from Vision 2030.

Riyadh Municipality’s initiatives aim to enhance regulatory efficiency and support business integrity, contributing to sustainable community development.



Morocco Receives 17.4 Million Tourists in 2024, Up 20% on 2023

FILE PHOTO: People walk outside the Cinema Museum of Ouarzazate, Morocco, October 23, 2024. REUTERS/Stelios Misinas/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: People walk outside the Cinema Museum of Ouarzazate, Morocco, October 23, 2024. REUTERS/Stelios Misinas/File Photo
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Morocco Receives 17.4 Million Tourists in 2024, Up 20% on 2023

FILE PHOTO: People walk outside the Cinema Museum of Ouarzazate, Morocco, October 23, 2024. REUTERS/Stelios Misinas/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: People walk outside the Cinema Museum of Ouarzazate, Morocco, October 23, 2024. REUTERS/Stelios Misinas/File Photo

Morocco received a record 17.4 million tourists in 2024, up 20% compared with previous year, with Moroccans living abroad accounting for nearly half the total, the tourism ministry said on Thursday.
Tourism accounts for about 7% of the North African country's gross domestic product and is a key source of jobs and foreign currency, Reuters reported.
The number of arrivals this year was two years ahead of target, the ministry said in a statement. It expects Morocco to receive 26 million tourists by 2030, when the country co-hosts the World Cup, together with Spain and Portugal.
Morocco has opened additional air routes to key tourist markets, while promoting new destinations within the country and encouraging the renovation of hotels.
From January to November, tourism revenue rose 7.2% to a record 104 billion dirhams, according to Morocco's foreign exchange regulator.