In Saudi Arabia, online stores are now verified through the e-commerce authentication service on the Saudi Business Center's Business Platform (business.sa), which replaced Maroof in March 2023. You sign in with Nafath, enter your store details and URL, prove you own the domain by adding a TXT record to its DNS settings, and once checked your store shows as verified. You need a CR or a supported document and a domain whose settings you control.
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How do you verify your e-store on the Business Platform?
Verifying your e-store on the Business Platform is now how you show that your online store belongs to a business or person known to the authorities. In March 2023, verification moved from the old Maroof service to the Saudi Business Center's Business Platform (business.sa). In short: sign in with Nafath, register your store details, add a TXT record to your domain settings to prove you control it, then request the check.
Why bother? Saudi shoppers look for trust signals before typing card details into a store they do not know. Verification, alongside clear seller details and a written return policy, reduces hesitation at checkout.
| Item | Before (Maroof) | Today (Business Platform) |
|---|---|---|
| Body | Maroof service | Saudi Business Center via business.sa |
| Sign-in | The old service's accounts | Nafath |
| Proof of ownership | The old service's procedures | A TXT record in the domain's DNS |
| What you need | A store link | Your own domain and access to its settings |
What do you need before you start?
Have these ready before you open the platform so you do not stall halfway:
- A working Nafath account for the business owner or an authorized delegate.
- Legal cover: a commercial registration or freelance document, and confirm your document type is supported. See CR or freelance document.
- Your own domain, such as yourstore.com or a .sa domain, not a generic sub-link whose settings you cannot control.
- Access to DNS settings at your domain registrar or hosting provider.
- Store details ready: trade name, store URL, activity and contact channels.
The verification steps on the Business Platform
Button labels and screen order may change as the platform updates, but the general path looks like this:
- 1Sign in to the Business Platform
Open business.sa, sign in with Nafath, and choose the business or document the store will be verified under.
- 2Open the e-commerce authentication service
Find the online store verification service among the platform's services and start a new request.
- 3Enter store details
Store name, full URL, activity and contact channels. Use the URL customers actually visit.
- 4Copy the verification code
The platform shows a text value to add as a TXT record in your domain's DNS.
- 5Add the TXT record
Log in to your registrar or hosting panel and add the record exactly as given, with no extra spaces.
- 6Request the check
Return to the platform and request verification. If it fails, wait a little for DNS to update and try again.
The TXT step in detail: where it goes and how to check it
A TXT record is a line of text in your domain's DNS. It changes nothing about how your site or email looks or works. Its purpose is that anyone can read it to confirm you control the domain. Here is what you typically need:
| Field | What to enter | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Type | TXT | Not CNAME or A |
| Host/Name | @ or the root domain, or whatever the platform specifies | Some panels append the domain automatically, so do not repeat it |
| Value | The verification code exactly as copied | Copy it whole with no leading or trailing spaces |
| TTL | The default | A lower value makes later edits show up faster |
Do not delete your other TXT records
You may already have other TXT records, such as SPF for email or a Google verification. Add the verification record as a new entry and do not overwrite existing ones, or your email may stop working. For DNS without the headache, read How to connect a custom domain.
Common problems and fixes
| Problem | Likely cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| The check fails immediately | DNS has not updated yet | Wait and retry; propagation can take a while |
| The code does not show in lookup tools | Record added to a subdomain by mistake | Make sure the Host is @ or as the platform requires |
| The name looks doubled | The panel appended the domain twice | Remove the domain from the Host field |
| No access to DNS | Domain registered to someone else or an agency | Move domain management to yourself first |
| Store lives on a platform sub-link | You do not control that link's DNS | Connect your own domain to the store first |
| Nafath sign-in does not show the business | You are not the owner or a delegate | Set up the right delegation for the business |
Most of these take minutes to fix once you know the cause. The key point: the domain must belong to you, not to the agency that designed your store.
Who should do it: you or your agency?
An agency or designer can help add the TXT record, but the Nafath sign-in and the verification request should be in your name or that of your business's authorized delegate. Never hand anyone your Nafath credentials. Ideally you own the registrar account, add the agency as a limited user if needed, and remove that access when the work is done. That way your store and its verification stay under your control even if you change providers later.
After verification: show the trust on your store
Verification only helps if customers see it. Show it where people hesitate: the footer and the checkout page. And place the other trust signals next to it.
- The verification badge or mark, as the platform instructs, in the footer and near the pay button.
- Business name, CR or document number, and VAT number if you have one.
- Familiar payment methods: mada, Apple Pay, Tabby and Tamara.
- Clear links to your return and privacy policies, plus a WhatsApp contact number.
- HTTPS working on every page; do not leave a single page without SSL.
In my current store: add a footer section titled 'Verified store' showing the business name, CR number, VAT number and a link to the verification certificate, all editable from the admin panel. Under the pay button, add a small line with mada, Apple Pay, Tabby and Tamara logos and the text 'Verified on the Business Platform'. Make sure every page is served over HTTPS and change nothing else.
Try it in FanannVerification is part of compliance, not all of it
Even after verifying, the E-Commerce Law expects you to show your identity, contact details, full prices and cancellation and return terms clearly. If you are VAT-registered, e-invoicing is part of your obligations too. Read What your website or app must show customers.
Customers never read regulations, but they instantly notice a store with nobody visible behind it.
Your next step: confirm your Nafath account and DNS access today, and set aside an hour for verification. If you are just starting, go back to How to start an online store in Saudi Arabia.
Key takeaways
- Maroof is no longer the verification body; the service has lived on business.sa since March 2023.
- Sign-in is through Nafath, so make sure your Nafath account works before you start.
- Ownership is proven with a DNS TXT record, so you need your own domain and access to its settings.
- Most failed checks come from a TXT record in the wrong place or not waiting long enough for DNS to update.
- Verification is a trust signal, but it does not replace showing seller details and a return policy as the law requires.
Frequently asked questions
Does Maroof verification still exist?
How do I verify my online store on the Business Platform?
Do I need my own domain to verify my store?
How long does a TXT record take to show up?
Is e-store verification mandatory in Saudi Arabia?
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