Discount License for Online Stores in Saudi Arabia (Takhfeedat)
An evergreen guide to the Saudi discount (takhfeedat) license for online stores: conditions, documents and fee, applying on the sales platform, Ministry rules and seasonal sales.
In this article
A discount (takhfeedat) license is a Ministry of Commerce permit a business or online store needs before announcing any price reduction. It is issued online at sales.mc.gov.sa for 300 SAR per store, per the Ministry's service page, and requires a registered CR, agency or trademark, a list of discounted products with before-and-after prices, and at least 50% of products discounted.
Key takeaways
- Any online store announcing a discount needs a Ministry of Commerce license "before announcing it", not after.
- Issuance is fully online through the discount platform, and the service page lists processing as instant.
- Display the license prominently in your store so consumers can verify it by scanning its barcode.
- Show prices before and after the discount, state discount percentages clearly, and disclose your exchange and return policy.
- The Ministry opens sales seasons whose licenses do not use up days from your annual balance, so watch its announcements.
What is a discount license and who needs one?
The Ministry describes "Discount Licenses" as an e-service letting merchants issue a license to cut prices in their stores without visiting a branch. It covers establishments and online stores alike, and the license must come before the announcement.
Does a small store need one?
The Ministry's rules address establishments and online stores with no size exemption, so treat the license as a core campaign step, like preparing stock and designing the ad.
Discounts or promotional offers?
The platform has separate services for discounts and promotional offers. A discount lowers the product's usual price; promotional offers cover other incentives. Choose the one matching what you will advertise, and if unsure call the Ministry on 1900 first.
License conditions and required documents
According to the Discount Licenses service page on the Ministry of Commerce website:
| Condition or item | What it means for your online store |
|---|---|
| A commercial registration, commercial agency or trademark registered with the Ministry | Make sure your CR is active and your store details match it |
| Attach a list of discounted products | Export the products included from your store system |
| Attach the price list before and after the discount | Export current and new prices for each product |
| Discounted products must be at least 50% of products | Check the share of included products against your full range before applying |
| Fee: 300 SAR per store | Paid through the available payment channels after submitting the request |
| Processing time: instant | The license can be printed after payment and the remaining steps |
Discounts also carry an annual balance of days and per-license duration limits, shown by the system when you apply, so plan the whole year rather than spend the balance on one campaign. The Ministry has said licenses can be extended online.
How to get a discount license
These steps are as listed on the service page on the Ministry of Commerce website:
- Click "Start service" and enter the electronic discount system.
- Log in with a username and password or through the National Single Sign-On (Nafath).
- Choose "Discounts and Promotional Offers Service".
- Choose "Discount Service", then "Discount Request".
- Fill in the required fields and click "Submit request".
- Pay the invoice through the available payment channels.
- Click "Search" and enter the random invoices for the products selected by the system.
- Print the license online with no need to visit a Ministry branch.
Rules for displaying discounts in an online store
The Ministry of Commerce has published nine rules for discounts in establishments and online stores. Here they are, with what they mean in practice for your store:
- License before advertising: do not publish any ad or banner about the sale before the license is issued.
- Display the license: place it prominently, such as on the offers page or at the top of the home page, so consumers can scan its barcode and see the business details and the discount's type, rate and duration.
- Genuine discounts: do not raise prices before the campaign and then "discount" them; price manipulation exposes you to penalties under the Anti-Commercial Fraud Law.
- Clear rates: state discount percentages as a clear "from–to" range.
- Before and after prices: show both prices on discounted items; online, that means the product page and its listing card.
- Exchange and return policy: disclose it clearly during the offer period.
- Product warranties: honour manufacturers' warranties on products in the offer.
- Freedom of choice: do not force consumers to buy a bundle to get the product they want.
- Advertising rules: follow e-commerce advertising controls across all your channels.
If your store is not yet registered, see the guide to registering an online store on Maroof, and if you are starting from scratch, read how to open an online store in Saudi Arabia.
Official sales seasons
The Ministry periodically announces sales seasons whose licenses do not use days from the annual discount balance. Examples include the "Takhfeedat 2026" season, announced from 1 August to 31 October 2026, and National Day 95 discounts from 16 to 30 September 2025. Plan around them to save your annual balance for your own campaigns. For a wider view of sales seasons through the year, see the Saudi retail seasons marketing calendar.
What is the penalty for unlicensed discounts?
The Ministry treats unlicensed discounts or competitions as a violation of the Anti-Commercial Fraud Law. Announcing the referral of 44 establishments to the Public Prosecution for this, it stated that the law punishes violators with up to three years in prison, fines of up to one million riyals, or both, with violators publicly named after final court rulings. The Ministry says its inspections of establishments and online stores continue, and consumers can report violations through the "Balagh Tijari" app or the unified number 1900.
Common mistakes store owners make
- Announcing the campaign on social media before the license is issued.
- Showing only the discounted price without the previous price.
- Discounting a handful of products while calling the campaign a store-wide sale.
- Keeping the campaign running in the store after the license expires.
- Hiding or changing the return policy during the offer period.
How Watily helps
The license makes your campaign compliant; reaching customers and bringing them back makes it succeed. Watily plans include:
- An online store with ready templates and mada, Apple Pay and Tabby payments, where you show prices before and after the discount.
- WhatsApp Business campaigns through the official API to tell opted-in customers your sale has started, plus abandoned-cart recovery.
- Integrations with Salla and Zid stores for merchants selling there, and digital loyalty cards that bring seasonal customers back.
- ZATCA-compliant e-invoicing for every order, within plans from 49 SAR per month excluding VAT on the pricing page.
To turn seasonal shoppers into returning customers, read the digital loyalty programme guide for Saudi Arabia.
Get your license first, then prepare your store and messages before the campaign starts. Start WhatsApp campaigns for your store with Watily or explore every system from the Watily home page.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does an online store need a discount license?
Yes. The Ministry of Commerce rules cover establishments and online stores and require the license before discounts are announced. It is issued online through the discount platform.
How much does a discount license cost?
The service page on the Ministry of Commerce website lists the fee as 300 SAR per store. It is paid through the available payment channels after the request is submitted.
What are the conditions for a discount license?
A commercial registration, commercial agency or trademark registered with the Ministry, plus a list of discounted products with prices before and after. Discounted products must make up at least 50% of products.
How can consumers verify a discount is licensed?
By scanning the barcode on the license with a phone camera, which shows the business details and the discount's type, rate and duration. That is why the license must be displayed prominently.
Do official sales seasons count against the annual balance?
For seasons the Ministry announces, such as "Takhfeedat 2026", it has stated that licenses are issued without losing days from the annual discount balance. Check each season's announcement when it is published.
