Product Certification for Saudi Arabia Market

Overview

How Does Product Certification in Saudi Arabia Work?

In Saudi Arabia, to sell or import a product, you have to follow the country’s product certification requirements. Depending on the type of your product, various government authorities conduct the certification process.

• SASO (Saudi Standards, Metrology and Quality Organization) is a national standards body responsible for developing the technical regulations that products should adhere to before they can be sold in Saudi Arabia
• SABER is an official registration and certification system run by SASO. SABER is a platform, not a certification body
• SFDA (Saudi Food and Drug Authority) governs food and beverages, cosmetics, medical devices, pharmaceuticals, and other products related to public health
• CST (Communications, Space, and Technology Commission) governs telecommunication and wireless products that contain Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GSM, and other radio technologies.

All the above-mentioned certification processes work under a national product safety program, SALEEM. SALEEM divides the products into two categories: regulated and non-regulated based on the risk they possess. In order to be imported and sold in Saudi Arabia, regulated products should conform to corresponding Saudi technical regulations.

For most regulated products, there are two certificates required under Saudi Arabia Product Certification:

• PCoC (Product Certificate of Conformity) – Ensures that the product meets the requirements of the relevant SASO Technical Regulation. Generally valid for up to one year, depending on the category of the product
• SCoC (Shipment Certificate of Conformity) – Issued per shipment, based on a valid PCoC and the commercial invoice. Without it, the goods will not clear customs

Saudi Arabia’s product certification validates the following:

• Conformity to the applicable SASO technical regulation
• A valid PCoC on the SABER platform, plus an SCoC per shipment
• Legal authorisation to place the product on the Saudi market
• Compliance with Arabic labelling and, where applicable, energy efficiency requirements

Who Needs It?

Who Needs Saudi Arabian Product Certification?

• ✅ Foreign manufacturers exporting to Saudi Arabia
• ✅ Exporters and trading companies supplying the Saudi market
• ✅ Saudi importers and distributors placing products on the market
• ✅ Local Saudi manufacturers producing regulated products

Important note: Starting 1 October 2025, all imports, regulated or unregulated, require a shipment certificate. SABER Self-Declaration Certificates are required for low-risk, unregulated items. Products cannot be shipped without SABER documentation.

Foreign manufacturer or exporter?

Your Saudi importer owns the SABER account because it can only be created using a valid Saudi Commercial Registration. Your duty is to provide the technical file, test reports, and supporting documents, which Markek manages with your importer.

Certification Routes by Industry

Which Certification Does Your Product Need?

The required certification depends on the product, its type, make, use, and HS code. Some products need one certification, while others need three together.

For example, a wireless speaker needs SABER certification and CST type approval for the Bluetooth module and Arabic labeling. A bag of cement needs SABER certification and the SQM (Saudi Quality Mark), including a factory audit.

Correct product classification is therefore the first and most important step.

⚠️ Final applicability depends on your exact specification and 12-digit HS classification code. Please provide us with your product details, and we will confirm the route within one working day.

The Six Certification Programs

Certification Compliance Programs We Offer in Saudi Arabia

🔹 SASO/SABER Certification (PCoC + SCoC)
Mandatory certification for most of the regulated consumer and industrial products imported into Saudi Arabia

🔹 G-Mark (Gulf Conformity Mark)
Mandatory conformity mark for selected products being sold in the GCC countries

🔹 SASO Energy Efficiency (MEPS)
Mandatory for selected electrical products regarding energy performance

🔹 SFDA Registration
Mandatory registration for food and beverages, cosmetics, medical devices, and healthcare products

🔹 CST Type Approval
Compulsory for products like Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, mobile phones, and other radio functions

🔹 Saudi Quality Mark (SQM)
Compulsory for some regulated products/sectors indicating a top-notch, compliant quality product

The Process

The Saudi Arabia Product Certification Process

The process follows six main steps. The correct classification at the beginning will help identify the technical regulations, tests, certificates, and approvals required for the project.

1. Classification – Verify the 12-digit HS classification code, whether it is regulated, and which technical regulations and standards should be applied. Typical time: 1-2 working days.
2. Testing – Conduct tests based on the applicable SASO standards in an accredited lab. Normally, pre-existing IEC or CB certificates are sufficient to establish compliance; there is no new testing. Typical time: Approx. 1 week.
3. Technical File & PCoC – Send the technical file to the relevant conformity assessment body. PCoC will be issued in your Saudi importer’s SABER account. Typical time: Few working days.
4. SCoC – Submit the SCoC on SABER for each shipment using your valid PCoC and commercial invoice. Typical time: Same day or next working day.
5. Customs Clearance – Present the SCoC at the Saudi port to release the goods.
6. Renewal – Renew the PCoC before its expiration date. An expired PCoC leads to the expiration of the SCoC, which will block the shipment.

Two rules to follow:

• Obtain the SCoC through SABER before the goods reach Saudi customs. Applying afterwards means the consignment will be detained
• Track the PCoC expiry against the shipping schedule rather than the regular calendar year

Documents Required

For the product certificate (PCoC):

• Test reports matching the required Saudi standard, from an accredited laboratory
• Product photographs showing label and markings clearly
• Labeling and marking artwork: Arabic where required, plus supplier name and Commercial Registration number where Circular 247 applies
• Declaration of Conformity from the manufacturer
• Technical specification or datasheet of the product
• Manufacturer details and ISO 9001 where relevant

For each shipment certificate (SCoC):

• Commercial invoice
• Packing list
• Reference to a valid PCoC
• MIMR-approved Product Declaration, where the product falls under Appendix (1)

Additionally for the Saudi Quality Mark (SQM):

• ISO/IEC 17025 laboratory test report, less than one year old
• Quality management system documentation
• Factory audit report

Additional documents may be required based on the product category and applicable technical regulation. We confirm the full list at classification so that missing requirements do not delay the project later.

Timeline, Validity & Renewal

Validity – The PCoC is valid for up to one year, depending on product category and risk level. The SCoC covers a single consignment.

Renewal – Renew the PCoC before it expires. There is no grace period: an expired PCoC blocks SCoC issuance, and the shipment stops.

Surveillance and Factory Audits—SQM licenses are valid for three years and include surveillance audits.

Some high-risk SABER categories may require a factory audit at the initial PCoC stage. Such audits can significantly extend the certification timeline. Markek identifies such requirements during the classification stage.

Regulatory Updates

What Changed in 2026

Saudi Arabia has tightened SABER considerably over the last eighteen months. If you are using information written before this year, or even a checklist from your freight forwarder in 2024, the following changes may prevent your shipment. Two of these new changes have future dates that you can prepare for in an economical manner.

⚠️ If your label artwork is being finalized now, build the Circular 247 requirement in before the plates are cut. Relabeling a landed consignment is the expensive way to learn this rule.

Cost

What are the various costs included in Saudi Arabia product certification?

Total costs will be determined by the type of product and the approval process required. These can include:

• SABER system and government fees
• Conformity assessment agency fees
• Laboratory testing fees
• Registration of products
• Audit costs for factory
• SQM license
• Shipping certification charges

Common Mistakes & Rejection

Common Mistakes That Stop Shipments

• Shipping before the PCoC is issued — there can be no SCoC, and shipment is detained. Fix: obtain certification before the container is booked
• Submission of SCoC application after shipment — the certificate should have been filed in SABER in advance. Fix: submit SCoC with invoice submission
• Wrong/incorrect classification of the products — the certificate is not related to shipped products. Fix: Classify in accordance with 12-digit HS Code
• Using an outdated HS code — immediately rejected since January 2026. Fix: check HS codes with the ZATCA’s list
• Missing or incorrect Arabic labeling — the certificate is rejected during the assessment phase or at customs clearance. Fix: pre-approve artwork
• Testing done by the laboratory with an incorrect scope of accreditation — Results in rejection of the file. Fix: Make sure that lab has an appropriate scope
• Missing energy efficiency label — the product cannot be sold in the market. Fix: determine MEPS at classification stage
• Sending/routing food or cosmetics through SABER — this system is not for these types of products. Fix: send/route SFDA products via SFDA
• Expired PCoC at time of shipment — the SCoC will be rejected. Fix: plan renewal 60 days in advance
• HS code on the invoice does not match the certificate scope, causing a clearance mismatch. Fix: Ensure reconciliation between invoice and certificate before shipment
• Wireless product without CST approval — blocked at market entry. Fix: ensure compliance even if the radio function is small
• Assuming non-regulated goods need nothing — they require a Self-Declaration Certificate and SCoC as well. Fix: no product is shipped without any SABER documentation.

How Markek Supports You

Markek International Certifications is a SASO-approved certification body accredited for product certification under ISO/IEC 17065 and inspection under ISO/IEC 17020, working across more than fifteen markets.

• 🔍 Classification & Route Mapping — We confirm your 12-digit HS code, whether the product is regulated, and exactly which programs apply before any testing spend.
• 🧪 Accredited Lab Coordination — We do not run our own laboratory. We maintain a network of accredited labs and match your product to one whose scope genuinely covers your standard. You are never pushed toward a test we happen to sell and never rejected because a report came from a lab without the right scope.
• 📄 SABER Submission & Certificates — We manage the technical file, the conformity assessment, and the PCoC and SCoC process alongside your Saudi importer’s account.
• 🌐 SFDA, CST & SQM Coordination — One partner across all Saudi routes, including factory audit coordination for the Saudi Quality Mark.

Markek manages Saudi Arabia product certification for exporters, manufacturers, and importers—classification, testing coordination, technical file preparation, and certificates through to customs clearance.