Saudi Arabia · Riyadh · Jeddah
How to Remove a 1-Star Google Review in Saudi Arabia
Need to remove a 1-star Google review in Saudi Arabia? You can’t delete it yourself, but Google removes reviews that break its rules — and the Saudi Anti-Cyber Crime Law adds a route for defamatory ones. This guide covers both, step by step, for businesses in Riyadh, Jeddah and across the Kingdom.
Saudi customers check Google Maps before they visit. Restaurants, clinics, car services and retailers in Riyadh and Jeddah compete on their star rating — and a single 1-star review can turn customers away.
Very little guidance exists for Saudi businesses on this. Here is the complete process.
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📌 Key takeaways
- Only the reviewer or Google can remove a Google review — Saudi businesses can report, appeal once and use the legal route.
- Google removes fake, competitor, ex-employee, abusive and personal-information reviews, not honest complaints.
- Online defamation is a crime under Article 3(5) of the Anti-Cyber Crime Law: up to 1 year in prison and/or SAR 500,000.
- Defamatory reviews can be reported through the Kollona Amn app or the Ministry of Interior’s cybercrime service.
- Reply politely in Arabic or English, and never name or threaten the reviewer.
🧭 In this guide
Can You Remove a 1-Star Google Review in Saudi Arabia?
Yes — but no business can delete a Google review itself. In Saudi Arabia, as everywhere, only the reviewer or Google can remove one. You have two ways to get Google to act:
- Google’s policy route — for fake, competitor, abusive and other rule-breaking reviews. It is the fastest route and removes the review worldwide.
- The Saudi legal route — for reviews that defame your business or staff under the Anti-Cyber Crime Law. It is slower and best kept for serious cases.
Google removed or blocked more than 292 million policy-breaking reviews worldwide in 2025 (Google). Most 1-star reviews that Saudi businesses can remove come down through the policy route.
Which 1-Star Reviews Google Removes for Saudi Businesses
| Review type | Google policy | Removable? |
|---|---|---|
| Reviewer was never a customer | Fake engagement | Yes, with evidence |
| Competitor or someone working for one | Conflict of interest | Yes, with a credible link |
| Former employee | Conflict of interest | Yes |
| Insults, threats or slurs | Harassment / hate speech | Yes |
| Names a private staff member or shares a phone number | Personal information | Yes |
| Wave of 1-stars from new accounts | Rating manipulation | Usually yes |
| Honest complaint from a real customer | None | No — reply instead |
See Google’s full content policy or our guide to Google review policy violations.
How to Remove a 1-Star Google Review in Saudi Arabia: Step by Step
1Screenshot the review
Save the review, star rating, date and the reviewer’s profile — you will need it for Google and for any legal complaint.
2Check your records
Search bookings, invoices and customer messages for the reviewer’s name and date.
3Report it from your Business Profile
Open your profile on Google Search or Maps, select Read reviews, select the report icon next to the review and choose the reason that matches the policy it breaks (Google).
4Track it in the Reviews Management Tool
Statuses are “Decision pending”, “Report reviewed – no policy violation” or “Escalated”. Google says evaluation typically takes several days.
5Appeal once with evidence
If Google says no, you have one appeal per review, and you can include up to 10 reviews.
When Is a Google Review Illegal in Saudi Arabia?
Honest criticism is not a crime. But the Anti-Cyber Crime Law (Royal Decree M/17, 26 March 2007) makes some online content illegal (official English translation):
| Provision | What it covers | Penalty |
|---|---|---|
| Article 3(5) | Defaming or damaging others through information technology | Up to 1 year in prison and/or a fine of up to SAR 500,000 |
| Article 3(4) | Invading privacy through camera phones or similar devices | Same as Article 3 |
| Article 8 | Aggravating factors, such as organised activity | Penalty of at least half the maximum |
| Article 13 | Confiscation of devices used in the offence | Devices and software can be confiscated |
The Personal Data Protection Law (PDPL) has been fully enforceable since 14 September 2024 and is supervised by SDAIA (CMS). Whether it applies to a private person posting a review is unclear, so for reviews that expose personal data the faster route is Google’s personal information policy.
Note: This is general information, not legal advice. The Arabic text of Saudi law governs — speak to a Saudi lawyer before filing a complaint.
How to Report a Defamatory Review in Saudi Arabia
- Keep the evidence. Save links, screenshots with dates and the reviewer’s profile, and note any harm to your business.
- File a cybercrime report. Use the Kollona Amn app, which accepts reports of defamation or false information online (KSA Expats), or the Ministry of Interior’s cybercrime reporting service (HD Law Firm).
- Ask Google to remove it on legal grounds. Submit a request through Google’s legal removal process, citing the Saudi law involved. Content that breaks only local law is often restricted only in Saudi Arabia.
- Follow up on the private right. After the criminal complaint, a business can pursue its private right to compensation.
- Report extortion separately. If someone demands money to stop or remove reviews, use Google’s extortion form and report it through Kollona Amn.
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Which Route Fits Your Review?
| Your situation | Best route |
|---|---|
| Fake review from someone who was never a customer | Google policy report |
| Competitor posting fake reviews | Google policy report; cybercrime report if coordinated |
| False accusation of fraud or a crime | Google report plus legal route |
| Review names and attacks a private employee | Google personal information report |
| Demand for money to stop reviews | Google extortion form plus Kollona Amn |
| Honest complaint from a real customer | Reply and fix the issue |
How to Reply to a 1-Star Review in Saudi Arabia
Keep your reply short, calm and polite. Don’t name the reviewer, accuse them or threaten legal action in public — it rarely helps and can make things worse.
Arabic: “شكراً لملاحظاتك. نأسف لتجربتك، ولم نتمكن من العثور على طلب يطابق هذا التقييم. نرجو التواصل معنا عبر [البريد الإلكتروني] أو [الهاتف] حتى نتمكن من متابعة الأمر.”
English: “Thank you for your feedback. We’re sorry to hear about your experience, but we can’t find an order matching this review. Please contact us at [email] or [phone] so we can look into it.”
For more examples, see our guide to responding to negative Google reviews.
How ReviewsEraser Removes Google Reviews for Saudi Businesses
We help businesses in Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam and across the Kingdom remove 1-star Google reviews that break Google’s rules. We check every review free, build the evidence, handle the report and appeal, and tell you honestly when the legal route is stronger.
Most cases are completed within 96 hours, at a fixed price with a 100% money-back guarantee. Start with a free Google review check.
1-Star Google Reviews in Saudi Arabia: FAQs
Can a business in Saudi Arabia delete a 1-star Google review?
No. Only the reviewer or Google can remove a review. A Saudi business can report it to Google, appeal once if Google refuses, request removal on legal grounds, or report a defamatory review as a cybercrime.
Which 1-star reviews will Google remove in Saudi Arabia?
Fake reviews from people who were never customers, reviews from competitors or former employees, harassment, hate speech, personal information, off-topic content and advertising. Google does not remove honest negative opinions.
Is a negative Google review defamation under Saudi law?
Not by itself. Honest criticism of a service is different from defamation. Article 3(5) of the Anti-Cyber Crime Law covers defaming or damaging others through information technology.
What is the penalty for online defamation in Saudi Arabia?
Under Article 3 of the Anti-Cyber Crime Law (Royal Decree M/17 of 2007), the penalty is imprisonment of up to one year and/or a fine of up to SAR 500,000.
How do I report a defamatory review in Saudi Arabia?
You can report cybercrimes through the Kollona Amn app or the Ministry of Interior’s cybercrime reporting service. Save links, screenshots with dates and the reviewer’s profile first.
Will Google remove a review because it breaks Saudi law?
It can, through Google’s legal removal process. Content that breaks only a local law is often restricted only in that country, while reviews that break Google’s policy are removed globally.
Does the Saudi PDPL help if a review exposes personal data?
The Personal Data Protection Law has been fully enforceable since 14 September 2024, but it is not clear it applies to a private reviewer. In practice, report the review to Google under its personal information policy, which is faster.
How long does it take to remove a Google review in Saudi Arabia?
Google says evaluation typically takes several days. Legal routes take longer. ReviewsEraser removes most policy-breaking Google reviews within 96 hours.
Should I reply in Arabic or English?
Reply in the language of the review. A short bilingual reply works well if your customers use both. Never name, accuse or threaten the reviewer.
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