Among the main fallouts of commercial cover up (tasattur), according to Abdul Rahman Al-Hussein, the spokesman for the Ministry of Commerce, are unfair practices on the market and transfer of huge amounts of money abroad by expatriates.

Expats' remittances outside of the Kingdom have reached SR150 billion, he said, citing the latest statistics.

This was disclosed by the ministry's spokesman during the weekly meeting hosted by Al-Qassim Emir Prince Faisal Bin Mishaal Bin Saud at Al-Tawhid Palace. The topic of this week's session was "Commercial cover up and the impact on the economy and national security."

Prince Faisal underscored the importance of joint efforts and cooperation to end the phenomenon of commercial cover-ups.

“All people will stand united in combating cover-up, and the government agencies will achieve positive results in defeating it and creating jobs for the men and women of the country,” the emir said.

Al-Hussein mentioned that commercial cover-up enables non-Saudis to engage in unlicensed economic activities for their own benefit. The commercial cover up activities are also responsible for the decline in employment opportunities for both men and women.

According to the spokesman, the new law, which is part of the National Program to Combat Commercial Cover-up, imposes stringent penalties on violators, which can include fines of up to SR5 million and imprisonment up to five years.

The ministry welcomes foreign investors who are licensed to practice their fields, and the requirements for foreign investors will be applied to them," he said.

During the event, a documentary film was screened. In the film, the major achievements in the fight against tasattur in the region were discussed.

According to the film, the corrections made in the region regarding tasattur resulted in an annual revenue of over SR40 million and the transfer of over 100 cases of violations to the prosecution.