SABER Certificate for Saudi Arabia: PCoC, SCoC and Customs Documents

What SABER is and who applies

SABER (saber.sa) is SASO's platform for registering products and issuing conformity certificates for goods sold in Saudi Arabia. Its users are importers, local manufacturers, individuals importing for personal use and government entities, so for commercial goods the requests are made from the Saudi importer's account. The exporter's part is to supply the product data, test reports and technical file, and to deal with the conformity assessment body on testing or audits.

SABER has separate paths for commercial products, for products not intended for display to the consumer, and for vehicle imports. It publishes the technical regulations, the list of products not covered by any regulation, the approved conformity assessment bodies (CABs) and an HS code lookup, which is where the importer checks what a product needs.

SABER charges SAR 500 to register a product conformity certificate and SAR 350 to issue a shipment certificate, both before VAT. The ITA notes that a factory audit, where the regulation requires one, costs extra.

Regulated and non-regulated products: PCoC, self-declaration and SCoC

A product is regulated when a SASO technical regulation covers it. It then needs a Product Certificate of Conformity (PCoC), issued through SABER by a SASO-approved CAB after the conformity assessment set by that regulation. The US International Trade Administration (ITA) describes the PCoC as valid for one year and tied to the product description, HS code, manufacturer and country of origin; check the dates on each certificate in SABER.

A product that no technical regulation covers is non-regulated: the importer issues a self-declaration in SABER instead of a PCoC. In both cases each consignment then needs a Shipment Certificate (SCoC). SABER states that the shipment certificate is valid for 90 days, extended from 60 days.

Each technical regulation sets its own procedure, labelling rules and technical file. The footwear regulation, for example, requires a Type 3 procedure for infant footwear (under 36 months) and Type 1A for other footwear, a technical file with the supplier's declaration, risk assessment, country of origin and test reports, and treats products carrying the Saudi Quality Mark or equivalent as compliant.

• Check the HS code in SABER against the technical regulations and the non-regulated products list before quoting.
• Regulated: PCoC from a SASO-approved CAB, then an SCoC for each shipment.
• Non-regulated: importer's self-declaration, then an SCoC for each shipment.
• Watch SABER's notices: new requirements are announced there with their start dates.

Electrical goods (IECEE) and labels

For certain electrical and electronic products SASO requires a SASO IECEE Recognition Certificate, issued by a Saudi National Certification Body on the basis of an IECEE (CB scheme) certificate and test reports. SASO's list includes electric pumps up to 5 hp, mobile phones and accessories, power banks, smart watches, lighting fixtures, televisions and monitors, kitchen appliances such as dishwashers, kettles, coffee makers and fryers, PCs and laptops, game consoles, charging cables and circuit breakers. ZATCA lists the IECEE certificate among the import documents for goods that need it.

Labelling rules are set in each technical regulation. The footwear regulation, for example, requires the label information in Arabic or in Arabic and English, including brand name and country of origin, on a label that is difficult to remove. From 1 October 2026 SABER requires the supplier's name (importer or local manufacturer) and its commercial registration number on the product for 10 technical regulations. Switzerland Global Enterprise (S-GE) also notes that goods must carry an origin marking that cannot be removed.

Customs clearance with ZATCA and FASAH

Customs in Saudi Arabia is run by the Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority (ZATCA). Its import instructions list a commercial invoice, a bill of lading and a certificate of origin (which ZATCA says is unnecessary when the country of origin is clearly established), plus an IECEE certificate and product registrations with the relevant authorities where the goods need them.

The importer, directly or through a customs broker, completes clearance in the FASAH platform, submitting the documents and the customs declaration at least 48 hours before the shipment arrives at the port of entry. SABER and FASAH are integrated, so the conformity certificate is verified electronically when the declaration is issued: the shipment certificate has to exist in SABER before the declaration is filed.

Invoice, certificate of origin and chamber certification

Exporter guides updated in 2026 by the ITA (May 2026) and S-GE (March 2026) still say that a chamber of commerce in the exporting country must certify the commercial invoice and certificate of origin. S-GE adds that the certificate of origin does not need consular (embassy) legalisation. ZATCA's own import instructions do not describe any certification, so confirm with the importer's customs broker what will be accepted before you ship.

S-GE lists what the commercial invoice should show: the HS code and country of origin; transport details such as the vessel name or flight number and date of departure; the number and type of packages; a precise description of the goods with net and gross weights; freight and insurance shown separately on CIF sales; and the exporter's signature. It also notes that importers often ask for a declaration naming the manufacturer.

Food, cosmetics and other SFDA products

The Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) regulates food, drugs, medical devices, cosmetics, animal feed, public health pesticides and tobacco products, and publishes a classification guidance for deciding whether a product falls under it. These products follow SFDA's registration and clearance rules, so check the classification before planning a SABER route.

For food, SFDA's clearance conditions require the importer to register its establishment and the food products on SFDA's Ghad platform, and to submit the certificate of origin, commercial invoice, bill of lading and health certificate through FASAH. Food labels must be in Arabic; manufacturers importing for their own production can instead commit to English-only labels. For cosmetics, SFDA's Ghad system handles cosmetics warehouse licences and the listing of cosmetic products.