The Ministry of Transport has started closing down 180 car rental firms in Jeddah for failing to comply with regulations stipulating that each firm must own at least 50 vehicles. Car rental firms claim unfair discrimination in the law, pointing out that firms in Makkah and Taif are only required to own 15 cars, and have asked that the regulation be reviewed and the number reduced to 30. Saif Al-Zahrani, the owner of one of the firms that has been closed down, says the ministry is “destroying livelihoods” and says that losses incurred may surmount SR250 million. “When I started this business,” Al-Zahrani said, “I acquired 26 cars, and the ministry didn't require me to have a license.” The owner of another firm, Mu'edh Al-Maliki, believes the move will only open the way for a small number of companies to monopolize the business. “Those companies will double their prices which will harm customers,” Al
