If you are exporting or importing products into Saudi Arabia, one document stands between your goods and the Kingdom’s market: the SABER certificate. Without it, your products will not clear Saudi customs. Full stop. Whether you are a manufacturer in Asia, a distributor in Europe, or a local importer in Riyadh, understanding the SABO SABER certificate process is no longer optional. It is the entry requirement that governs every regulated product entering the Kingdom.
At Finsoul Network KSA, we work with importers, exporters, and manufacturers navigating Saudi Arabia’s compliance landscape every day. This guide covers everything you need to know about the SABER certificate Saudi Arabia, from what it is and who needs it, to the step-by-step registration process, cost, timelines, and what changes are shaping SASO compliance in 2026.
What Is the SABER Certificate in Saudi Arabia?
SABER is the electronic system introduced by SASO to streamline the product certification process for goods imported into Saudi Arabia. It replaced the older SASO certification system and provides a unified digital platform for issuing certificates of conformity.
The Saudi Standards, Metrology and Quality Organization, better known as SASO, is the national authority responsible for regulating the quality and safety of all products entering the Kingdom. Every product entering Saudi Arabia must be registered on SABER, and all conformity certificates must be issued electronically through the platform. No manufacturer or exporter can bypass SASO technical regulations. Non-compliant products face immediate rejection at Saudi customs.
In practical terms, the SABER certificate in Saudi Arabia is a digital certificate of conformity that confirms your product meets SASO’s technical regulations and safety standards before it enters the Saudi market. It is not a one-time exercise; it is an ongoing compliance obligation tied to every product line and every shipment you bring into the Kingdom.
SABER and the SALEEM Programme — Understanding the Framework
To fully understand SASO product registration, you need to understand the SALEEM programme that sits behind the SABER platform.
Under SALEEM, products are categorised into regulated and non-regulated groups based on their level of risk. To enforce safety measures effectively, SASO has issued technical regulations outlining specific requirements and certificate schemes for each product category covering a wide range of products, including electrical and electronic appliances, toys, cosmetics, and construction materials.
Under the Saudi SALEEM Scheme, SASO has issued technical regulations for regulated products based on their nature, application, safety, and performance aspects, which include risks to consumers and the environment. Products are classified as low, medium, or high risk accordingly.
This risk-based classification is important because it determines which conformity assessment procedure applies to your product and, therefore, how much documentation, testing, and third-party assessment you will need to complete before your SABER certificate can be issued.
Two Types of SABER Certificates You Must Know
Products are categorised into regulated and non-regulated products. Regulated products must first obtain a Product Certificate of Conformity (PCoC). This is required for each product to confirm that it complies with the relevant Saudi technical regulations and standards.
Here is how the two-stage certification structure works:
Product Certificate of Conformity (PCoC)
Once your product passes evaluation, a Product Certificate of Conformity is issued. This certificate covers the product type and is valid for up to one year, depending on the product category. The PCoC confirms that your specific product model meets the applicable SASO standards. Every regulated product requires a PCoC before any shipment certificate can be obtained.
Shipment Certificate of Conformity (SCoC)
For each shipment entering Saudi Arabia, a Shipment Certificate of Conformity must be obtained through SABER. This certificate is required for customs clearance. The SCoC is tied to a specific consignment, meaning you need a fresh SCoC for every shipment, even if the same product line already holds a valid PCoC.
Self-Declaration of Conformity (SDoC) for Non-Regulated Products
For unregulated products, the importer must simply self-declare the product or products to be imported into the Saudi market. To self-declare a product, the importer must enter the product details into SABER, attach technical files and documents, and then be issued a Requester Declaration (SDoC).
SABER Certificate Requirements — What You Need to Get Started
Before initiating SASO product registration on the SABER platform, you will need the following in place:
Both the importer and the manufacturer or supplier must have SABER accounts. This is a prerequisite; neither party can proceed without being registered on the SABER system.
Beyond account setup, the core SABER certificate requirements include:
Product documentation — detailed product specifications, technical data sheets, and relevant safety compliance documentation that maps to the applicable SASO technical regulation for your product category.
Test reports from an accredited laboratory — test reports must come from a recognized conformity assessment body. Reports from non-accredited laboratories will not be accepted by SABER.
Product samples — for regulated products requiring physical testing, samples must be submitted to an accredited conformity assessment body authorised by SASO.
Conformity assessment body selection — there are conformity assessment authorities (certification bodies) authorised by SASO to issue conformity certificates for products. SASO provides a list of the accredited entities available on SASO’s website or through the SABER platform.
The specific documentation required varies by product category and risk classification. High-risk products require a significantly more comprehensive evidence package than low-risk items. Getting this right at the outset saves weeks of rejection-and-resubmission cycles on the SABER platform.
Step-by-Step SASO Product Registration Process
Step 1: Identify Your Product Category and Applicable Technical Regulation
Every SABER registration begins with correctly identifying your product’s HS code and the applicable SASO technical regulation. This determines your risk classification, the conformity assessment procedure required, and which certification bodies are authorised to issue your PCoC. Getting this wrong at step one is the most common cause of registration delays.
Step 2: Register on the SABER Platform
Both the Saudi importer and the overseas manufacturer or supplier must create accounts on the SABER platform. The importer’s account is the primary account through which shipment certificates are requested; the manufacturer’s account is needed to link product certification data.
Step 3: Select an Accredited Conformity Assessment Body
Choose a SASO-authorised conformity assessment body (CAB) for your product category and geography. The cost of registering conformity certificates through the platform is 500 SR per certificate, except for equivalent certificates issued by SASO, which are free. Note that testing and assessment fees from the CAB are additional to this platform registration fee.
Step 4: Product Testing and Evaluation
The required product testing and inspection is carried out in accordance with SASO standards. All results are documented in the format required for SABER submission. For non-regulated products, the self-declaration process applies.
Step 5: Submit for Product Certificate of Conformity (PCoC)
Once testing is complete and all documentation is prepared, the conformity assessment body issues the PCoC through the SABER system. The PCoC is linked to your product model, not to a specific shipment, and is valid for up to one year.
Step 6: Request Shipment Certificate of Conformity (SCoC) Per Consignment
With a valid PCoC in place, the Saudi importer requests an SCoC through SABER for each specific shipment. To clear the consignment of regulated products, Saudi Customs require the Shipment Certificate of Conformity (SCoC), which necessitates the prior issuance of the Product Certificate of Conformity (PCoC).
Step 7: Customs Clearance
With a valid SCoC linked to the shipment in the SABER system, Saudi Customs can verify the certification electronically. Not registering the consignment conformance certificate on the SABER platform will prevent the products from entering the Saudi market and will result in fines from the competent authorities.
Product Categories Covered Under SABER
The SABER platform covers an extensive range of product categories across both regulated and non-regulated classifications. The most actively certified product categories include:
Electrical and electronic appliances, including home appliances, power tools, lighting products, and consumer electronics. Mandatory for air conditioning units, lighting, refrigerators, washing machines, motors, and more under the energy efficiency labelling requirements.
Toys and children’s products, construction and building materials, automotive vehicles and spare parts, cosmetics and personal care products (regulated under SFDA separately), gas appliances, and industrial equipment.
All lighting products entering Saudi Arabia need to have both a Type Approval Certificate of Conformity and a Shipment Certificate of Conformity issued by an accredited Conformity Assessment Body via the SABER system.
Common Mistakes That Delay SABER Certification
Based on practical experience working with importers and exporters targeting the Saudi market, the following mistakes are responsible for the majority of SABER registration delays:
Incorrect product classification — selecting the wrong HS code or technical regulation creates a compliance mismatch that invalidates the entire certification attempt.
Test reports from non-accredited laboratories — only laboratories recognised by SASO and listed within the SABER system are accepted. Reports from other labs, regardless of their international reputation, are rejected automatically.
Missing SABER accounts for both parties — failure to register both the importer and the manufacturer on the platform is one of the most avoidable causes of delay.
Expired PCoC at shipment stage — with PCoCs valid for up to one year, businesses that do not track expiry dates find their shipments blocked at customs because the underlying product certificate has lapsed.
Attempting to ship without an SCoC — the SCoC must be in the SABER system before the shipment arrives at Saudi Customs. Attempting to obtain it after the fact results in the consignment being held and fines being issued.
SABER Certificate in Saudi Arabia — Costs and Timelines
The total cost of obtaining a SABER certificate in Saudi Arabia depends on your product category, risk classification, the conformity assessment body selected, and the number of product models requiring certification.
As a general framework, expect to budget for the SABER platform registration fee of SAR 500 per certificate, testing and assessment fees from the CAB which vary significantly by product type and complexity, and any applicable laboratory testing costs if physical product testing is required.
Timelines vary from as little as two to four weeks for straightforward non-regulated product self-declarations to eight to sixteen weeks for high-risk regulated products requiring full type testing and third-party conformity assessment. Early engagement with a SASO compliance consultant before the shipment is manufactured or dispatched is always the most time and cost-efficient approach.
Why Work With a SASO Compliance Consultant in Saudi Arabia
The procedure for obtaining a SABER SASO certificate in Saudi Arabia is complex, structured, and exhaustive. It mandates meeting various compliance requirements, and foreign exporters may find the registration process overwhelming to complete.
A qualified SASO compliance consultant brings three things that businesses managing the process independently consistently lack: current knowledge of which technical regulations apply to your specific product, established relationships with SASO-authorised conformity assessment bodies that accelerate testing and issuance timelines, and the experience to identify and resolve documentation issues before they become rejection notices.
At Finsoul Network KSA, our SASO SABER certificate team works across all major product categories, managing the entire certification process from initial product classification through to PCoC and SCoC issuance. We work with importers established in Saudi Arabia and with overseas manufacturers preparing product portfolios for the Saudi market, ensuring that your SABER registration is completed correctly, on time, and without the costly delays that come from navigating the process without specialist support.
Contact our team toady for SABER Certifications!
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Is the SABER certificate mandatory for all products entering Saudi Arabia?
All imported products must be registered on the SABER platform. Regulated products require a PCoC and SCoC from an accredited conformity assessment body. Non-regulated products require a self-declaration of conformity submitted through SABER.
Q: How long is a SABER Product Certificate of Conformity valid?
A Product Certificate of Conformity (PCoC) is valid for up to one year from the date of issuance, depending on the product category. A Shipment Certificate of Conformity (SCoC) is issued per consignment and covers a single shipment only.
Q: What happens if my products arrive in Saudi Arabia without a SABER certificate?
Products arriving without a valid SCoC linked in the SABER system cannot be cleared through Saudi Customs. The consignment will be held and fines will be issued by the competent authorities. In serious cases, products may be rejected and returned at the importer’s expense.
Q: Can I use a certification from an international body for SABER registration?
Only certification bodies specifically authorised and listed by SASO within the SABER system are accepted. As long as the conformity assessment authority is among the accredited authorities by SASO, their certificates can be used for SABER registration.