New Rules Tighten Sports Ticket Sales in Saudi Arabia

Oct 28, 2026•2 min read

New regulations from the Ministry of Sport now govern how sports-event tickets are sold and resold in Saudi Arabia, limiting these activities to event organizers and Ministry-accredited platforms. The rules introduce clear requirements on cybersecurity, data protection, pricing transparency, and refund policies.

Under the regulations, approved platforms must provide secure transactions, safeguard customers' personal data, meet cybersecurity standards, and be capable of handling periods of high demand. They are also required to clearly disclose ticket prices, categories, usage terms, and any fees or commissions.

Cancellation, refund, and compensation policies must be stated clearly, alongside dedicated channels for complaints, inquiries, cancellations, and refunds. The rules prohibit hidden fees, misleading pricing, unauthorized resale, automated purchasing tools, and the use of multiple accounts to bypass purchase limits.

To strengthen fairness and security, tickets must be linked to the buyer's identity and are subject to individual purchase limits, approved venue capacity, and integration with venue entry systems.

Why it matters

The measures aim to protect fans from inflated resale prices, fraud, and unclear fee structures, while ensuring a smoother and safer experience when buying tickets for sporting events across the Kingdom.

A dedicated digital accreditation service for ticket platforms is scheduled to launch through the Riyadi platform from 15 November. Existing platforms are given 90 days from the issuance of the regulations to update their systems and meet the new requirements.

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