Saudi GAC monitors markets to prevent monopoly via fixing, raising prices: official

The Competition Law ensured the supervisory role of the General Authority for Competition (GAC) to monitor the various activities of the market and commercial sectors, Abdulaziz Al-Obaid, director of legal affairs, told Argaam.

Al-Obaid said that the authority placed a ban on the anti-competitive practices that lead to monopolistic coordination and agreements to limit trade and impede the entry of potential competitors into the market, or remove existing competitors from the market.

He pointed out that the Competition Law and its regulations prohibit all monopolistic practices that take place between two firms or more, whether by agreeing to fix prices at a certain level, raise the price level, restrict production, development and manufacturing processes, and obstruct new competitors to the market.

The entry of enterprises to the market and competing free of other establishments for the delivery of quality products and prices lead to providing good price and commodity options for the consumer, Al-Obaid said.

The official indicated that competition is subject to relevant laws, as the consumer is the ultimate beneficiary of the legitimate competition for low prices and diversified commodity options.

GAC supports all enterprises in economic growth by backing local and foreign investors and the flow of foreign investments, Al-Obaid said, adding that competition laws lead to an exemplary situation in the markets through which the authority can boost market efficiency to achieve the goals of economic development.

He also added that GAC is studying mergers and acquisitions to verify the standards of the competition system if the sales of the deal's parties exceed SAR 100 million. Therefore, they must inform the authority at least 90 days before the completion of the deal.