Evaluating the Effectiveness of Saudi Arabia’s Merger Control Law in The Digital Economy: Challenges and Opportunities

نوع المستند : المقالة الأصلية

المؤلفون

1 Assistant Professor of Law College of law, Al Yamamah University

2 Master of Business Law (LLM) student College of law, Al Yamamah University

10.21608/jlaw.2025.378829.1239

المستخلص

This study focuses on the Saudi Arabia's merger control framework and competition policy in the context of the digital economy. Competition law in the Kingdom is relevant in the context of data-powered multi-sided platforms as the Kingdom is undergoing digital transformation through Vision 2030. The research looks at how the General Authority for Competition (GAC) has changed its policy enforcement post the 2019 law changes, especially on digital mergers. The paper assesses the adequacy of legal definitions, notification levels, and enforcement practices compared to international standards using case law from the EU and US, including the GAC’s Delivery Hero/The Chefz and Uber/Careem deals. It argues that there is a notable lack of regulatory consistency exposed by these cases. The study argues that although the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has aligned many of its policies with international benchmarks, there is lack of clarity regarding its policies, institutional capacity, cross-jurisdictional collaboration, and international partnerships that undermines the robustness of a digital competition framework. Defensible proposals are outlined that aim to advance competition regulation and benefit innovation in the context of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030.

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