2. Saudi Arabia — SABER

What it is and what it covers

SABER is the electronic conformity platform of the Saudi Standards, Metrology and Quality Organization (SASO); it implements the Saudi Product Safety Programme (SALEEM) for products imported into — or made in — Saudi Arabia (TÜV SÜD; SGS). Products covered by a SASO Technical Regulation are "regulated products" — the regulations span categories such as textiles, lubricating oils, detergents, building materials, paints, lifts, vehicle spare parts, electrical products and toys (Intertek; TÜV SÜD). Goods not covered by any Technical Regulation still go through SABER, but via a supplier self-declaration plus a shipment certificate instead of third-party certification (SGS).

Regulated products need two certificates: a Product Certificate of Conformity (PCoC), valid for one year, and a Shipment Certificate of Conformity (SCoC), issued per consignment (Intertek).

Step-by-step process

1. Register on SABER: the Saudi importer (or their authorised representative) creates the SABER account and registers the business (Intertek; Aleph guide).
2. Enter each product in SABER using its KSA customs tariff (HS) code and upload the technical documentation; products must be registered in SABER before any Product Certificate can be issued (Intertek; SGS).
3. Select a SASO-approved Conformity Assessment Body (CAB) from the list in SABER (e.g. SGS, Intertek, TÜV SÜD, HQTS-Tabseer), and pay the PCoC fees (Intertek).
4. Conformity assessment: the CAB reviews test reports and technical files against the applicable Technical Regulation, and may require testing or a factory audit; on approval the PCoC is issued in SABER, valid one year (Intertek; Diligence Certification guide). Some categories need extra scheme approvals first — for example SASO IECEE recognition and energy-efficiency (EER) label registration for regulated electrical products — before the PCoC can be completed (GTL/Meide guide to SASO 2870).
5. Per shipment — request the SCoC in SABER against the valid PCoC, upload the commercial invoice and shipment data, and pay the SCoC fees; the CAB verifies that a valid PCoC exists for every regulated product in the shipment, and the SCoC is issued for that shipment only (Intertek).
6. Customs clearance: Saudi Customs checks the SCoC electronically — SABER is integrated with the FASAH customs system — before releasing the goods (Diligence Certification guide).

Who does what

• SASO — writes the Technical Regulations, runs SALEEM/SABER, and accredits the CABs (TÜV SÜD).
• Saudi importer — holds the SABER account, registers the products, requests both certificates and pays the fees (Intertek).
• Exporter / manufacturer — supplies the technical file, test reports and product data the CAB assesses (and hosts any factory audit) (Diligence Certification guide).
• CAB (certification body) — performs the conformity assessment and issues the PCoC and SCoC through SABER (SGS).

Documents typically required

Test reports from accredited (ISO/IEC 17025) laboratories; technical data sheet; product photos including labels and packaging; commercial invoice (with HS codes); packing list; bill of lading/airway bill; certificate of origin; safety data sheet for chemicals; declaration of conformity and factory audit report for higher-risk goods (Diligence Certification guide; Aleph guide).

Common pitfalls and delays

• No valid certificate, no clearance: because SABER is linked to the FASAH customs system, a regulated product without a valid PCoC/SCoC is rejected, fined or returned (Diligence Certification guide).
• Letting the PCoC lapse: the SCoC can only be issued against a valid PCoC, so an expired one-year PCoC blocks every shipment until it is renewed (Intertek).
• Skipping category-specific schemes: for regulated electrical goods, missing IECEE recognition or energy-efficiency label registration stalls the PCoC even when basic test reports exist (GTL/Meide guide to SASO 2870).

Official links — verify and apply here

• SABER platform (registration and certificates): https://saber.sa
• SASO (Saudi Standards, Metrology and Quality Organization): https://www.saso.gov.sa

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