- Site
- Middle East and Africa
- Mark / regulation
- 2
- Market
- Saudi Arabia
01Entering This Market
The Saudi Arabian regime has two stages, and the second stage repeats with every shipment: first a Product Certificate of Conformity (PCoC) is obtained for the product, then a Shipment Certificate of Conformity (SCoC) is obtained for each shipment. Customs clearance cannot be completed without an SCoC. Transactions are carried out through the SABER platform, which only the importer resident in Saudi Arabia can access.
02Background to the Regime
The Saudi Arabian regime has in recent years moved from a certificate arrangement running on paper to a registration arrangement running through an ELECTRONIC PLATFORM, and that transition is the key to understanding the present structure. The standards organisation publishes the technical regulations; the platform brings together product registration, the issuing of the certificate of conformity and the shipment-by-shipment conformity confirmation in one place.
The defining feature of this arrangement is that it is TWO-TIERED. The first tier concerns the product itself and is obtained once: the product is assessed against the technical regulation and a product certificate of conformity is issued. The second tier concerns each shipment: the shipment conformity confirmation to be presented at customs is obtained per shipment on the basis of the product certificate. Confusing the two means a container waiting at customs.
Technical regulations are published by product group and each carries its own scope, the standards to be applied and labelling requirements. The energy efficiency label is a separate obligation for certain product groups and directly affects the sale of the product.
The burden of evidence varies with the technical regulation: some groups require an assessment by an authorised body and a test report, while for low-risk groups a supplier declaration may suffice. Which regulation the product falls under is established at the outset; the scope list is advancing by expansion.
The application runs through an importer established in the country. Information in Arabic is mandatory on the label and in the manual, and this is a shipment condition independent of technical conformity.
03Acceptance of Foreign Test Reports and Documents
- Foreign test reports are accepted as input to the assessment by the authorised body; accreditation of the laboratory is required.
- The product certificate of conformity and the shipment conformity confirmation are SEPARATE documents; neither takes the place of the other and it is the second that is required at customs.
- For product groups requiring an energy efficiency label, label registration runs separately.
- The certificate is registered on the platform in the name of an importer established in the country; a foreign manufacturer cannot register directly.
- The Arabic label and manual requirement cannot be substituted by a report.
04Defining Features of the Regime
- A two-stage regime: product-based PCoC + shipment-based SCoC
- SCoC is obtained separately for each shipment; PCoC alone is not sufficient
- Transactions are carried out by the importer on the SABER platform
- Products are divided into regulated and non-regulated categories; requirements vary accordingly
- The energy efficiency label additionally applies to products within its scope
- Arabic-language labelling is required
05Local Representative and Responsible Party
An importer resident in Saudi Arabia is MANDATORY: registration with the SABER platform and all certificate transactions are carried out through this party. A foreign manufacturer cannot transact directly on the platform; it provides the technical file and test reports for the PCoC, while the importer carries out the registration.
07Entry Process
- 01Scope DeterminationIt is determined which legislation and marking scope the product falls under in the target market. This step defines the entire process; getting it wrong wastes all subsequent work.
- 02Determining Applicable StandardsThe standards accepted by the market and any national deviations are identified. The same IEC standard may apply with different deviations in different markets.
- 03Establishing the Test PlanIt is assessed which part of existing test reports will be accepted; missing tests are planned. A CB Scheme report, if available, reduces retesting.
- 04Local Party and RegistrationIf the market requires an established representative, importer or applicant, this party is designated and the necessary registrations are made.
- 05Tests and Technical FileTests are conducted and the technical file is prepared. Some markets require testing to be performed within their own country.
- 06Certification or DeclarationDepending on the market's regime, a manufacturer's declaration is drawn up or a certificate is obtained from the authorised body; a factory audit is carried out if required.
- 07Marking and LabellingThe mark and label are applied according to the market's format and language rules. The language requirement is checked at customs in most markets.
- 08Shipment and CustomsIf a pre-shipment document is required, it is obtained; the document set to be presented at customs is completed.
08Customs and Labelling
- SCoC is presented at customs for each shipment
- Arabic label and usage information required
- The energy label is mandatory for products within its scope
- Invoice and shipment information must match the SCoC
- A shipment without a certificate is held at customs
09Common Mistakes
- Forgetting the SCoC after obtaining the PCoC — the most common cause of delay
- Not notifying the importer of SABER procedures in time
- Assuming G-Mark replaces SABER
- Not preparing the Arabic-language label
- Invoice information not matching certificate information
10Calendar
The certification timeline varies with the product, the required test workload, sample shipping time and the authority's workload; for this reason, no duration in days or weeks is given on these pages. The main factors determining the timeline are: whether testing must be performed in the target country, whether a factory audit is required, the time to appoint a local representative, and the current maturity of the technical file. A realistic timeline for your product is provided in writing at the quote stage.
Market access regimes change frequently: scope lists are updated, transition periods are extended, new requirements are added. These pages describe the structure of the regime and who bears the obligation; the applicable scope and dates for your product are confirmed from the current legislative text at the quote stage.
11Frequently Asked Questions
I obtained a PCoC — what do I need to do for each shipment?
The PCoC is product-specific and time-limited; an SCoC must additionally be obtained for each shipment. The SCoC is issued by the importer through SABER using invoice and shipment information.
Is SABER required if I already have G-Mark?
Yes. G-Mark is a regional mark; customs clearance in Saudi Arabia depends on certificates issued through SABER. The two do not substitute for each other.
Saudi Arabia roadmap for
Tell us about your product; we'll share the required steps, documents and timeline in writing.