Saudi Arabia Changes Draft Rules After Public Feedback
By Abdulrazaq Auwal
Saudi government agencies have amended draft regulations after adopting more than 500 public comments and proposals submitted through the Kingdom’s Istitlaa public consultation platform in the first half of 2026, highlighting an approach that could have wider implications for businesses and services supporting Hajj and Umrah.
The Saudi Center for Competitiveness and Business (SCCB), which operates Istitlaa, said 54 government entities published 209 draft regulations covering economic and development affairs for public consultation between January and June.
The consultations generated 8,475 comments and attracted about 1.6 million visits to the platform, with government agencies subsequently incorporating more than 500 submissions into their draft regulations.
The amendments included reducing some fines and fees, removing or modifying regulatory requirements, addressing overlaps between provisions and adjusting the scope of certain regulations and activities.
Saudi Arabia Changes Draft Rules After Public Feedback
Authorities also removed or reformulated some articles, obligations and implementation periods to improve regulatory quality and make the rules more practical for the sectors they target.
Although the latest figures do not indicate that the 500 adopted proposals specifically relate to Hajj or Umrah regulations, the consultation model is relevant to the Kingdom’s expanding pilgrimage economy, which involves airlines, accommodation providers, transport companies, travel agencies, tour operators and other service providers.
For Hajj and Umrah businesses, a regulatory system that allows stakeholders to comment on proposed rules before approval could help identify operational challenges, compliance costs and overlapping requirements before new regulations take effect.
It could also become increasingly significant as Saudi Arabia expands its Hajj and Umrah services and seeks to improve the experience of pilgrims through greater coordination across government and private-sector operators.
Istitlaa, launched in 2020, allows members of the public, government entities and private-sector stakeholders to review proposed laws and regulations and submit feedback before approval. Participants can also follow consultation outcomes and decisions taken in response to their submissions.
Since its launch, the platform has hosted 2,279 draft regulatory projects and received about 81,000 comments. More than 230,000 accounts have been registered, while total visits have exceeded 17.6 million.
The SCCB said the consultation process strengthens transparency, governance and communication between government agencies and stakeholders while contributing to the effectiveness of Saudi Arabia’s legislative and regulatory environment.
The centre also works to simplify procedures for establishing and operating businesses and improve the Kingdom’s competitiveness. Through its branches and the Saudi Business Center platform, it provides more than 4,800 services in coordination with 80 government entities involved in the business sector.
