Saudi Arabia fines 170 gas stations after price increase

Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Commerce and Industry has penalized around 170 gas stations which stopped selling fuel during the day and waited until midnight due to the price increase announced by the government.

After the Saudi government announced a 50% increase in the price of petrol products many gas station operations closed early and waited until after midnight to reopen - once the new prices had come into place.

Officials from the Ministry of Commerce and Industry carried out inspections in more than 900 service stations and sanctioned 170 of them for breaching the law, reported GDN Online.

Petrol and energy prices in Saudi Arabia were the lowest in the Gulf due to huge subsidies. Now the government has decided to change its stance and act accordingly to the international energy prices, in a similar way to the United Arab Emirates did this summer.

Prices for diesel, natural gas, kerosene, as well as electricity and water, will also be increasing.