An e-commerce licence before any trading begins, and trading tied to the website named in the licence, effective from 16 March 2026.
Decision of the Minister of Commerce and Industry No. (25) of 2026, setting the conditions and controls for practising commercial activities through websites that do not require a physical premises, was issued on 4 March 2026 and published in the Official Gazette, Issue No. (5), on 15 March 2026.
The decision was issued having regard to legislation including Law No. (25) of 2005 on the Commercial Register, the Commercial Law promulgated by Law No. (27) of 2006, the Electronic Commerce and Transactions Law promulgated by Decree-Law No. (16) of 2010, and Law No. (5) of 2015 on commercial, industrial and similar public premises and street vendors. Article (3) makes registration in the Commercial Register a condition for granting an e-commerce licence. The licence does not replace registration.
First: the licence comes before trading
Article (2) provides that no commercial activity may be practised until an e-commerce licence has been obtained from the competent department and the prescribed fees have been paid. The prohibition makes the licence a condition of trading: anyone who sells before the licence is issued is in breach from the first transaction.
The licence is issued in accordance with the procedures set out in Articles (6) and (7) of Law No. (5) of 2015, and the competent department keeps a dedicated register of licensees. This register makes it possible to verify an online trader’s standing, which is usually difficult to establish in the absence of a physical premises.
Second: trading is tied to the website named in the licence
Article (5) requires the licensee to conduct the commercial activity through the website specified in the e-commerce licence, and to obtain the competent department’s approval for any change to the licence details.
Anyone trading through more than one website must obtain a separate e-commerce licence, and any change to the licence details requires the competent department’s approval. Article (1) defines “website” broadly enough to include electronic means and social media platforms.
Third: obligations towards the consumer
Article (5) requires the licensee to provide electronic payment services to consumers through the website, and to display specified information clearly on it, including the licence and registration details, contact and customer-service channels, details of the goods or services, the exchange and returns policy, and the procedure for receiving complaints.
These obligations address the central problem of trading without a premises: the difficulty of identifying the party to turn to in a dispute. By requiring the trader to disclose its identity and policies in advance, any failure to honour them becomes provable and open to accountability before the competent authority.
Publication and entry into force
The decision was published in the Official Gazette, Issue No. (5), on 15 March 2026. Article (7) provides that all competent authorities shall implement it and that it takes effect from the day following its publication, that is, from 16 March 2026.
In summary
The decision subjects selling through websites and platforms to a licence that must precede trading, ties it to a specified website, and places disclosure obligations on the trader towards the consumer. We recommend that anyone already trading online review three things first: that they hold a valid e-commerce licence, that the website they sell through matches the one named in the licence, and that the information and returns policies shown to consumers are complete.