Saudi Gazette report

RIYADH — The Transport General Authority (TGA) continued its inspection campaigns across Saudi Arabia, detaining 606 violators between Saturday and Friday, Oct. 4–10, for engaging in unlicensed passenger transport activities, known locally as “Al-Kadadah.”

The violators faced legal measures including vehicle impoundment and financial fines, in cooperation with several relevant authorities.

The authority reported that inspection teams caught 362 individuals involved in preparatory activities such as calling for passengers using private vehicles without authorization, while 244 others were found transporting passengers illegally in their personal cars.

The TGA emphasized that these campaigns are part of ongoing efforts to enhance competitiveness in the transport sector, curb illegal practices that harm service quality and passenger safety, and promote higher compliance rates in line with the National Transport and Logistics Strategy.

The authority noted that the new Land Transport Law, issued under Royal Decree No. (M/188) dated 24/08/1446 AH, strictly prohibits unlicensed passenger transport operations.

Repeat violators face fines of up to SR11,000 and vehicle impoundment for 25 days for engaging in preparatory solicitation (“calling for passengers”).

Those caught practicing illegal transport can face fines of up to SR20,000 and vehicle impoundment for up to 60 days.

The law also allows the sale of the offending vehicle at a public auction and the deportation of non-Saudi offenders in cases of repeated violations.