Saudi Arabia · Global Market Access
Entering the Saudi Arabian Market: The SABER Platform
The electronic platform through which product and shipment certificates are processed.
- Market
- Saudi Arabia
- Site
- Middle East and Africa
- Mark
- SABER
01What is it?
SABER is the electronic platform through which conformity processes are administered in Saudi Arabia. The process has two stages: a PCoC for the product and an SCoC for every shipment.
02Why Does This Scheme Exist?
Saudi Arabia's electronic conformity platform replaced the earlier certificate and shipment document arrangement that ran on paper. Under the old arrangement documents were obtained from different bodies, verification at customs was difficult and there was a problem of forged documents; the platform set out to solve those three problems in a single system.
The logic of the platform is TWO-TIERED and this is the key to understanding the arrangement. The first tier concerns the PRODUCT and is obtained once: the product is assessed against the relevant technical regulation and a product certificate of conformity is issued on the platform. 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 is this market's most widespread and most expensive mistake: an importer holding the product certificate finds its container waiting at customs when it has not obtained the shipment confirmation. The product certificate is obtained once, the shipment confirmation for every consignment.
The platform also connects authorised conformity assessment bodies into the system: the assessing body enters the certificate directly onto the platform and the customs administration verifies the document from the system. This makes document verification real-time.
Registration is made in the name of an importer established in the country; a foreign manufacturer cannot register directly. The product's Arabic label and manual requirement and, where an energy efficiency label is required, that registration also run through the platform.
03Whose Obligation?
Only an importer established in Saudi Arabia can access the platform; a foreign manufacturer cannot carry out processes directly. The manufacturer supplies the technical file and the test reports.
04Required Documents
- Product registration details and the HS code
- The PCoC certificate
- Shipment invoice and bill of lading details
- The SCoC application record
- Test reports and the technical file
05Process
- 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.
06Points to Watch
- An SCoC is obtained separately for EVERY SHIPMENT
- Customs clearance cannot be completed without an SCoC
- The invoice details and the certificate details must match
- The distinction between regulated and non-regulated products determines the requirements
07Neighbouring Schemes and the Difference
- 01The product certificate and the shipment confirmationThe product certificate is obtained once and is specific to the product; the shipment confirmation is obtained for every consignment and is what is required at customs. Neither takes the place of the other.
- 02The platform and the technical regulationsThe platform is where registration and confirmation are administered; which requirements apply is determined by the standards organisation's technical regulations.
- 03SABER and G-MarkEven where the Gulf common mark applies to some products, platform registration and shipment confirmation run separately.
- 04Importer registration and the manufacturerRegistration is made in the name of an importer established in the country; when the importer changes, the registration and certificates are reissued.
08Scheme Detail
There is no separate certification page for this mark; the scope and process are as described on this page. The roadmap specific to your product is provided in writing at the quote stage.
09Other Marks in the Saudi Arabia Market
10Frequently Asked Questions
I obtained a PCoC — what do I need to do for each shipment?
An SCoC must also be obtained for every shipment. The SCoC is issued by the importer through SABER with the invoice and shipment details. Forgetting this step is the most frequent cause of delay.
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.
Saudi Arabia · SABER roadmap for
Tell us about your product; we'll share the required steps, documents and timeline in writing.