MoCI Revamps Commercial Activities of Firms To Align With GCC Framework

The Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MoCI) has launched, effective 1 June 2026, an update to the registered commercial activities in accordance with the Unified Economic Guide for the Classification of Economic Activities of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries.

The update contributes to unifying classifications, improving data quality, and enhancing transparency within the business environment, without any impact on the nature of the activity or the commercial registration.

The update aims to align commercial activities with the unified economic classification adopted by the GCC countries and to provide a more accurate classification of activities in line with regulatory requirements and economic developments. It also seeks to facilitate procedures, establish a unified reference framework for activities, and reduce overlap and duplication among activities.

The ministry explained that the update targets business owners and existing companies, in addition to relevant government entities, and will be implemented according to a timeline comprising three consecutive phases.

The first phase will begin on 1 June 2026 and will include updating the commercial activities of companies whose registered activity corresponds to a specific activity under the Unified Classification of Economic Activities. 

The second phase will commence on 15 June 2026 and will include updating activities that correspond to more than one activity under the adopted classification.

The third phase will begin on 30 June 2026, during which mixed activities, including commercial and industrial activities, will beupdated.

The Ministry of Commerce and Industry confirmed that the process of updating commercial activities will be carried out automatically in accordance with the approved classification and will not require business owners to take any action.

The update will also have no impact on the nature of the activity or the commercial registration.