The Jeddah branch of the Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities has shut down more than 30 furnished apartment buildings and issued warnings to 25 others for exceeding price limits, Mohammed Al-Omari, director-general of the commission in Makkah, told Arab News.

The commission's licensing wing will continue inspection visits at hotels and furnished apartments in Jeddah during the ongoing spring break holiday in cooperation with the Ministry of Commerce in order to ensure that owners comply with price regulations put in place by the commission and the Ministry of Trade, said Al-Omari.

“Prices have increased by as much as 60 percent, creating a negative impact on consumers,” he said.

He urged citizens, residents and visitors to complain to 19988, the commission’s hotline, if prices are raised by more than 50 percent of the original price for furnished apartments and by more than 30 percent for hotels. Omari also urged customers to demand a copy of the official price list.

“Business owners who are found to be charging more than these limits will be required to pay back the excess charged on the official price," he said.

There are currently 1,267 hotels and 2,662 furnished apartment units in the Kingdom, which witness high demand during school breaks, public holidays and national festivals.