A SABER certificate is the conformity certificate Saudi customs checks before it releases imported goods. It is issued through SABER, the online platform run under the Saudi Standards, Metrology and Quality Organization (SASO). There are two certificates. A Product Certificate of Conformity (PCoC) is needed for products covered by a SASO technical regulation. A Shipment Certificate (SC) has been needed for every commercial consignment since 1 October 2025, whether the product is regulated or not.
This guide explains how each certificate works, what it costs, which products fall under the Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) instead, and the mistakes that most often hold shipments at Saudi ports. Requirements were checked against SASO and SABER sources in October 2026, but SASO updates them regularly, so confirm the current rules for your HS code before you ship.
What SABER is and how it connects to customs
SABER is part of the Saudi Product Safety Program. Importers use it to register their products, connect with SASO-approved conformity assessment bodies (CABs), and receive certificates. It is linked electronically to FASAH, the Saudi customs single window, so customs can check a shipment’s certificate without paper copies.
The SABER account belongs to the Saudi importer, which needs a Saudi commercial registration (CR). As an exporter or overseas supplier, your role is to provide what the importer and the CAB need: product details, the technical file, test reports and consistent shipping documents.
Regulated or non-regulated: check your HS code first
Everything depends on whether your product is covered by a SASO technical regulation. SABER currently lists 61 technical regulations across textiles, construction, mechanical, electrical and chemical products. The quickest check is the SABER HS code tool: enter your code and it shows the regulation that applies and which certificates are required.
- Regulated products need product registration, a PCoC from a CAB, and a shipment certificate for each consignment.
- Non-regulated products need product registration, a free self-declaration, and a shipment certificate for each consignment.
SASO moves HS codes into regulated status from time to time, usually with a notice period of about 30 days. A product that was non-regulated on your last order may not be now, which is why getting the HS code right matters so much.
The SABER certificates at a glance
| Step | Who needs it | Platform fee | Validity | Platform time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Product registration | All products | Free | No expiry | Instant |
| Self-declaration | Non-regulated products | Free | 1 year | Instant |
| Product Certificate of Conformity (PCoC) | Regulated products | SAR 500 + VAT | 1 year | 5–6 working days |
| Shipment Certificate (SC) | Every commercial consignment | SAR 350 + VAT | 90 days | 1–2 working days |
The platform fees are only part of the cost. The CAB charges separately for document review, product testing and, for some regulations, a factory audit. Those fees are not published and vary by product and CAB, so get quotes from more than one. Platform processing times also exclude testing, which is usually the longest part.
How to get a SABER certificate, step by step
- Confirm the HS code and check on SABER whether a technical regulation applies.
- Register the product on SABER with its HS code, name, brand, factory, country of origin, model numbers and photos.
- Regulated products: choose a SASO-approved CAB in SABER and submit the technical file and test reports. The CAB assesses them, and the PCoC is registered for one year.
- Non-regulated products: issue the free self-declaration, valid for one year.
- For each consignment, apply for a shipment certificate before the goods arrive. It must exist before the customs declaration can be filed in FASAH.
For regulated products, the assessment type set by the technical regulation decides how long step 3 takes. Some regulations accept product testing alone. Others require an audit of the factory’s quality system and ongoing surveillance, which adds weeks. Start this before production finishes, not after the goods are packed.
PPE and safety equipment
Industrial PPE is regulated. SASO’s Technical Regulation for Personal Protective Equipment and Clothing covers eye and face protection, hearing protection, respiratory equipment, gloves, helmets, fall protection and more. It uses a conformity route that includes quality assurance of the production process. In practice, that means:
- The manufacturer needs a third-party approved product safety management system, with surveillance.
- Each product needs a PCoC in SABER, supported by test reports to the listed standards.
- The supplier keeps a declaration of conformity and a technical file.
- Labels must show the supplier’s name, country of origin, protection level and warnings.
PPE intended for medical use, such as surgical masks, falls under SFDA instead. Some glove and protective eyewear HS codes were moved into the PPE regulation in 2025, so check your codes even if they cleared without a PCoC before. Our guide to PPE compliance standards covers EN and ANSI marking for the UK and US.
Products regulated by SFDA instead: food and medical devices
Food, medicines, medical devices and cosmetics are regulated by the Saudi Food and Drug Authority, not by a SASO technical regulation. They follow a separate process:
- Food, including rice: the importer registers its establishment and each product on SFDA’s GHAD platform, and shipments are released through FASEH and FASAH. Our guide to importing rice into Saudi Arabia lists the documents.
- Medical devices, including reusable surgical instruments: a Medical Device Marketing Authorization (MDMA) is needed before the devices can be sold. The overseas manufacturer applies through a licensed Saudi authorized representative, and the importer needs an SFDA importer licence. Reusable surgical instruments are Class A, the lowest risk class, but still need full technical documentation. The SFDA fee for a new Class A application is SAR 15,000, and SFDA reviews within 35 business days once the file is complete.
One point is unclear. SASO’s announcement that shipment certificates apply to all products from 1 October 2025 does not mention an exception for SFDA products, while the product safety law behind SABER excludes them. Until that is clarified, ask your customs broker whether your food or medical device consignment also needs a SABER shipment certificate.
Why shipments get held at Saudi ports
- No shipment certificate before arrival. The customs declaration cannot be filed without one, and goods may have to be re-exported.
- An expired certificate. PCoCs last one year and shipment certificates 90 days.
- A wrong or mismatched HS code. The code on the shipment certificate must match the one the product was registered under.
- Data that does not match across documents. Product description, manufacturer, invoice value and quantity must agree between SABER, the test report and the commercial invoice and packing list.
- Test reports that are not accepted, for example from a lab without ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation, or reports that do not cover every model shipped. A CE or UKCA mark is not a substitute for a PCoC.
- Missing Arabic labelling or supplier details required by the regulation.
Each of these leads to clearance delays, and with them demurrage and detention charges. All of them can be prevented before the goods leave the factory.
What changed in 2025 and 2026
- 1 October 2025: shipment certificates became mandatory for all commercial consignments, regulated and non-regulated, before the customs declaration.
- 2025: more HS codes moved into regulated status, including some gloves and protective spectacles under the PPE regulation, and certain products began to need an importer declaration approved by the Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources before a shipment certificate can be issued.
- 15 September 2026: SASO extended shipment certificate validity from 60 to 90 days.
- 1 October 2026: the Saudi supplier’s name and CR number must appear on the product for ten regulations, including child seats, pressure vessels and small solar panels. PPE is not on that list.
What exporters should prepare
Even though the Saudi importer holds the SABER account, most delays start with the supplier’s paperwork. Before production ends, have ready:
- The confirmed 12-digit Saudi HS code for each product.
- A technical file and test reports from an ISO/IEC 17025 accredited lab, covering every model you will ship.
- Product photos, model numbers and factory details exactly as they will appear on the invoice.
- Arabic labels approved before printing.
- A certificate of origin and shipping documents whose descriptions match the SABER registration word for word.
Xervion sources safety equipment, FMCG goods, rice and surgical instruments from Pakistan and China for buyers in Saudi Arabia. We prepare the supplier side of SABER and SFDA documentation with the importer before goods leave the factory. If you are planning a Saudi-bound order, tell us the product and HS code and we will confirm what it needs.
