Draft Rules Tighten Charity Fundraising Ads

A Saudi draft regulation would set new rules for the content of advertisements used to raise money for charity, banning misleading messages and the use of children in appeals. The draft was opened for public consultation in 2025 and is under discussion in 2026 through the government e-consultation platform for draft regulations.

Under the proposed rules, charity fundraising advertisements would be barred from carrying misleading, exaggerated, or inaccurate claims. The draft also prohibits featuring children in these appeals, and bans the use of religious wording or imagery in any way that misstates religious texts or offends religious symbols.

Advertisements would further be required to avoid content that harms the reputation of charitable work or stirs controversy. Each ad must be tied to a valid license, and the information shown must match the details of that license.

Verifying appeals before you give

To help donors confirm a campaign is genuine, visual advertisements would need to display a QR code linking to a "Donate Safely" verification service. For non-visual advertisements, an electronic link or license details would be required instead.

For residents and expats across the Kingdom, the measures aim to make it easier to check that a fundraising appeal is licensed and legitimate before donating, while reducing emotional or misleading tactics. The available details do not state any fee for the draft advertising rules, nor a separate validity period. As a draft, the regulation may still change before it is finalized.

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