SABER is Saudi Arabia's mandatory product conformity system. Without a valid Product Certificate of Conformity (PCoC) and Shipment Certificate of Conformity (SCoC) through the SABER portal, regulated goods will not clear Saudi customs. As of 2026, over 8,500 product categories require SABER certification. This guide covers every step.
What SABER is and why it exists
SABER — Saudi Arabia Conformity Assurance Scheme — was launched in 2019 by the Saudi Standards, Metrology and Quality Organization (SASO) to digitize and modernize Saudi product conformity requirements. Before SABER, conformity processes were manual, paper-based, and inconsistent. SABER centralized everything on a single portal: saber.gov.sa.
The system links importers, exporters, conformity assessment bodies (CABs), and Saudi customs in one digital ecosystem. When a shipment arrives at Jeddah or Dammam, Saudi Customs automatically validates the SCoC against the SABER system before releasing the container.
Scale of SABER as of 2026:
- Over 8,500 regulated product categories requiring PCoC
- 47 internationally accredited conformity assessment bodies
- 2.3 million certificates issued annually
- Average rejection rate for first-time applicants: 28%
The two SABER certificates you need
Product Certificate of Conformity (PCoC)
The PCoC certifies that a specific product model meets the applicable Saudi standards. It is tied to the product, not the shipment.
- Duration: 1–3 years depending on product category and standard
- Cost: 1,300–3,000 SAR per product SKU
- Who obtains it: The importer or manufacturer, via a SABER-accredited conformity assessment body
- When to obtain it: Before the first shipment of any regulated product — ideally concurrent with production
Once a product has a valid PCoC, every subsequent shipment of that product only needs an SCoC.
Shipment Certificate of Conformity (SCoC)
The SCoC certifies a specific shipment of a SABER-registered product. It is tied to the shipment (container/consignment).
- Duration: Single shipment
- Cost: 500–2,000 SAR per shipment
- Processing time: 24–72 hours for products with existing PCoC
- Required for: Every regulated shipment entering Saudi Arabia
Step-by-step SABER registration process
Phase 1: Portal Setup (Day 0–3)
- Register at saber.gov.sa with your Saudi commercial registration number (CR)
- Select your product category from the SABER product classification
- Identify the applicable Saudi standard (SASO standard, referenced IEC/ISO, or technical regulation)
- Choose an accredited conformity assessment body (CAB) from the SABER-approved list
- Electrical equipment: SGS, Bureau Veritas, Intertek, TÜV SÜD
- Medical devices: BSI, TÜV Rheinland, DEKRA
- Food products: SGS, Bureau Veritas, Mérieux NutriSciences
- Machinery: TÜV SÜD, Lloyd's Register, Apave
- Product technical file — design specs, bill of materials, safety data
- Test reports — from an accredited testing laboratory
- CE Declaration of Conformity — for CE-marked products (strong alignment with SABER requirements)
- ISO/IEC certificates — quality management and product certifications
- Labeling samples — showing Arabic language compliance
- Factory audit report — some categories require factory inspection
- Simple products with CE and existing test reports: 5–10 working days
- Products requiring new lab testing: 15–25 working days
- Products requiring factory audit: 25–40 working days
- Login to SABER → Create new shipment
- Link to existing PCoC
- Enter shipment details: HS code, quantity, CIF value, vessel/AWB number
- CAB reviews and issues SCoC within 24–72 hours
- Product name in Arabic
- Country of origin
- Manufacturer name and address
- Importer name and Saudi address
- Net weight/volume in metric units
- Manufacturing and expiry dates (for food, pharma, cosmetics)
- Halal status (for food, beverages, cosmetics, personal care)
- Safety warnings in Arabic (for chemicals, electrical goods)
- Obtain retroactive SCoC (possible for some categories, 7–14 additional days, extra cost)
- Re-export the goods (freight back to origin + re-certification cost)
- Valid PCoC for every regulated SKU in the shipment
- SCoC requested and issued before vessel departure
- Arabic labeling compliant with SASO requirements
- HS code on SCoC matches Bill of Lading HS code (mismatches cause holds)
- CIF value on SCoC within 5% of commercial invoice value
- Halal certificate for any food, beverage, or cosmetic products
Choosing the right CAB: Not all CABs are accredited for all product categories. Some category examples:
Phase 2: Technical Dossier Preparation (Day 3–10)
Submit to the CAB:
The most common delay: Test reports not from an IEC 17025-accredited laboratory. Always confirm your testing lab's accreditation status before paying for tests.
Phase 3: CAB Review and Certificate Issuance (Day 10–25)
The CAB reviews the dossier, may request additional documents, and issues the PCoC through the SABER portal. Timeline:
Phase 4: SCoC Per Shipment (Before each shipment)
Once PCoC is in place, issue SCoC for each shipment:
Critical: The SCoC must be issued BEFORE the vessel departs the origin port. A vessel that departs without SCoC requires retroactive processing — 14+ additional days and significant extra cost.
SABER product categories and risk levels
SABER classifies products into three conformity levels:
Level 1 (Low risk): Declaration of Conformity by importer. No third-party inspection required. Examples: basic furniture, general stationery.
Level 2 (Medium risk): Third-party testing of product samples. Examples: household electrical appliances, basic electronics, textiles.
Level 3 (High risk): Full third-party inspection including factory audit. Examples: medical devices, children's products, PPE, pressure equipment, gas appliances.
Most industrial products imported from Europe fall into Level 2. Medical and safety products are Level 3.
Arabic labeling requirements for SABER
All consumer products entering Saudi Arabia must carry Arabic labeling. SABER compliance includes labeling review. Requirements:
Practical note: Arabic label production in Europe costs 30–60% more than doing it in Saudi Arabia. Many importers use sticker overlabeling at the Saudi destination warehouse — acceptable under SABER as long as labels are applied before sale, not before import.
What happens when SABER certification fails
Scenario 1: SCoC missing at port of entry
Saudi Customs places a hold on the container. The importer must either:
Storage charges at Jeddah Islamic Port: 200–400 USD per day per 40-foot container.
Scenario 2: PCoC expired
If your PCoC expired and you shipped anyway, the container is held and cannot be released until a new PCoC is obtained. Timeline: 5–25 additional days.
Scenario 3: Product not matching certified specs
If the shipped product differs materially from the PCoC specifications (different model, different voltage rating, different material), the SCoC can be invalidated on arrival. Penalty: rejection + potential blacklisting of the importer.
SABER success checklist
Before your next shipment to Saudi Arabia:
Our SABER first-pass success rate for shipments we manage: 94%. Industry average for importers managing SABER independently for the first time: 62%.
Request SABER compliance support — we register your products and manage SCoC issuance as part of our standard service for buyers.