A member of Saudi Arabia’s Shoura Council has proposed a study to eliminate fees charged to expatriates employed in the construction sector, aiming to lower housing expenses for Saudi nationals. This suggestion was made during a Shoura Council session conducted via video conference on Monday, chaired by Speaker Sheikh Abdullah Al-Sheikh.
Raeda Abu Nayan, a Council member, called on the Ministry of Commerce and relevant authorities to explore the feasibility of abolishing these fees. She argued that such a measure could decrease housing prices for citizens and stimulate increased investment in real estate development, thereby helping to rebalance the market.
In a related discussion, Council member Khalid Al-Buraik urged the Ministry of Commerce to accelerate initiatives requiring car dealerships to maintain consistent inventories of both consumable and non-consumable spare parts. He also highlighted the importance of reducing diagnostic and repair durations at dealerships to enhance service quality for consumers.
Another member, Asim Madkhali, recommended that the Ministry collaborate with relevant bodies to expand the creation of specialized agricultural production and marketing companies under unified legal frameworks. He suggested these companies could work alongside small farmers, landowners, and businesspeople through chambers of commerce, promoting economic sustainability and strengthening food security.
Dr. Hassan Al-Hazmi praised the Ministry’s efforts in tackling commercial concealment, safeguarding consumers, fostering promising sectors, and diversifying the national economy. He also stressed the necessity of preventing counterfeit products from entering the market.
Meanwhile, Dr. Turki Al-Anzi called for a study on developing a smart national platform to prepare and manage commercial contracts for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). He emphasized the importance of coordinating with relevant authorities to support this crucial sector further.
