{
  "id": 10945156,
  "title": "Saudi Arabia busts illegal Riyadh centre training absconding workers to run online stores",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/30/saudi-arabia-busts-illegal-riyadh-centre-training-absconding-workers",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-30T12:23:02.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Gulf News",
    "slug": "gulf-news",
    "url": "https://gulfnews.com/world/gulf/saudi/saudi-arabia-busts-illegal-riyadh-centre-training-absconding-workers-to-run-online-stores-1.500693162"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Saudi authorities have dismantled an illegal operation in Riyadh that allegedly groomed workers who had absconded from their sponsors to launch and run online stores for their own gain, according to local reports. The illicit site, situated in Al Batha district, Riyadh, was uncovered during a joint inspection by the Ministry of Commerce, Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development, and Riyadh police enforcement officers. It was discovered that Asian workers were being trained at the premises to independently establish and manage e-commerce businesses, contravening Saudi regulations. The operation was allegedly orchestrated by a foreign investor and two non-compliant residents. Preliminary investigations revealed that the operators charged workers SR300 for a purported \"international e-commerce certificate.\" The Ministry of Commerce announced that the violators were apprehended, while the two residents were handed over to their respective authorities, and the foreign investor to the Ministry of Investment for further scrutiny. Saudi regulations stipulate stringent requirements for e-commerce businesses, including licensing, registration, disclosure, and consumer protection. Online enterprises are mandated to adhere to commercial registration, freelance documentation, tax number acquisition, and transparent disclosure of business information to consumers, including contact details for inquiries and complaints. Additionally, they must exhibit the total cost of goods/services, including shipping, delivery charges, and taxes, before finalizing payments, as well as communicate clear delivery or service fulfillment timelines and refrain from misleading consumers.",
  "summary": "Dubai: Saudi authorities have shut down an illegal operation in Riyadh that allegedly trained workers who had absconded from their sponsors to set up and run online stores for their own benefit, local media reported. The site, located in the capital’s Al Batha district, was uncovered during a joint inspection campaign involving the Ministry of Commerce, the Ministry of Human Resources and Social…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 10,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Haaretz",
        "title": "Suspected terror incident diverts Israel-bound flydubai flight to Saudi Arabia; pilot may have tried to crash plane",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/30/suspected-terror-incident-diverts-israel-bound-flydubai-flight-to",
        "published": "2026-09-30T06:36:27.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Indian Express",
        "title": "Not ‘hjiacked’, Flydubai Dubai-Tel Aviv flight lands in Saudi Arabia after pilots brawl: What we know so far",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/30/not-hjiacked-flydubai-dubai-tel-aviv-flight-lands-in-saudi-arabia",
        "published": "2026-09-30T08:39:32.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "DW News",
        "title": "Flydubai pilot investigated over possible attempt to crash Tel Aviv-bound flight",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/30/flydubai-pilot-investigated-over-possible-attempt-to-crash-tel-aviv",
        "published": "2026-09-30T09:37:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Ajel English",
        "title": "Flydubai flight from Dubai to Israel diverted to Saudi Arabia after pilot dispute",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/30/flydubai-flight-from-dubai-to-israel-diverted-to-saudi-arabia-after",
        "published": "2026-09-30T09:58:19.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Winnipeg Free Press",
        "title": "An Israel-bound plane diverts to Saudi Arabia for emergency landing and other Mideast developments",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/30/an-israel-bound-plane-diverts-to-saudi-arabia-for-emergency-landing",
        "published": "2026-09-30T10:10:54.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The National UAE",
        "title": "Macron faces pushback over plan to send soldiers and defence systems to Saudi Arabia",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/30/macron-faces-pushback-over-plan-to-send-soldiers-and-defence-systems",
        "published": "2026-09-30T11:03:14.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Times of Israel",
        "title": "Daily Briefing Sept. 30 – Israelis land safely in Saudi Arabia after suspected plane terror",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/30/daily-briefing-sept-30-israelis-land-safely-in-saudi-arabia-after",
        "published": "2026-09-30T11:33:22.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "NPR",
        "title": "A flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv diverts to Saudi Arabia after making distress call",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/30/a-flight-from-dubai-to-tel-aviv-diverts-to-saudi-arabia-after-making",
        "published": "2026-09-30T13:35:11.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Al-Monitor",
        "title": "Saudi Arabia turned down Israeli request to allow its planes to pick up Israeli passengers, security sources say",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/30/saudi-arabia-turned-down-israeli-request-to-allow-its-planes-to-pick",
        "published": "2026-09-30T15:46:40.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}