GAC Issues Guidelines On Measures For Compliance With Saudi Antitrust Provisions

The Saudi General Authority for Competition (GAC) issued advisory guidance for companies operating in Saudi Arabia on internal compliance mechanism to prevent violations of the Kingdom's antitrust regime. These guidelines address conventional concepts such as compliance risk assessment, internal monitoring and reporting mechanisms. Furthermore, the guidelines entice companies to establish channels to cooperate with GAC to prevent and address violations of the Saudi competition regime. The guidelines come in the wake of GAC substantially expanding enforcement of antitrust provisions imposing high-value fines against violators over the past 12 months.

Anti-Competitive Behavior

GAC identifies agreements limiting competition as a principal issue of concern. Within the meaning of the Saudi antitrust regime agreements limiting competition are all agreements restricting the freedom of or harming competition, regardless of whether the parties to them intended to impact