Director General of the Ministry of Economy, Mohammad Ahmad Abdul Aziz Al Shehi, said restaurants and cafes must immediately stop adding a service charge to their customer’s bill, to comply with the decision of the Higher Committee for Consumer Protection. During a meeting with representatives of economic development departments, Al Shehi said that it illegal for non-tourist restaurants to add a service charge.
Only restaurants and cafes operating inside hotels, or those paying local government fees, may add a service charge. Al Shehi said field inspection teams will make sure to end violations of Consumer Protection Law Number 24 for 2006. The Ministry of Economy previously declared that imposition of a service fee is against the law and it will soon develop a bylaw that prevents outlets from doing this.
