⚠ Since January 2025, a Missing Certificate Gets Your Saudi Shipment Re-Exported — No Exceptions
Saudi Arabia's compliance requirements have tightened significantly. The Letters of Undertaking that previously allowed shipments to enter pending documentation are gone. Certificates obtained post-arrival are now treated as violations. If your product reaches Saudi customs without the right documentation in the SABER system, the outcome is re-export — not a delay, not a fine, but a shipment sent back at your cost.
Effective January 1, 2025: All shipments to Saudi Arabia require both a Product Certificate of Conformity (PCoC) and a Shipment Certificate of Conformity (SCoC) issued through the SABER platform. Letters of Undertaking are no longer accepted for customs clearance. Obtaining certificates post-arrival is considered a violation, risking shipment re-export.
Effective September 15, 2025: A new list of HS codes now requires importers to provide a declaration approved by the Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources when requesting SCoCs via SABER. If your product falls under the new HS codes, additional documentation is required before your shipment certificate can be issued.
Why QIMA for SASO Certification?
SASO-approved Conformity Assessment Body — certificates your shipments need to clear Saudi customs: QIMA is an official SASO-approved CB, authorized to issue both Product Certificates of Conformity (PCoC) and Shipment Certificates of Conformity (SCoC) through the SABER platform. Your certificates are issued by an authority SASO recognizes — no rejection risk at customs.
Independently accredited to ISO/IEC 17065:2012 by the Saudi Accreditation Center: QIMA holds SAAC accreditation covering SASO and SFDA scopes for the Middle East region — the highest independent verification that our certification process meets international standards.
Global coverage across all major exporting regions: QIMA is authorized to issue SASO certificates for products exporting from Asia & Australia, Europe, the Americas, Middle East & North Africa, and Sub-Saharan Africa. One certification partner, regardless of where your product is manufactured.
End-to-end SABER management — from product registration to shipment clearance: QIMA handles both PCoC and SCoC issuance through the SABER platform. You deal with one partner from initial application through to customs clearance — no gaps in your documentation chain.
Expert guidance on which regulations apply to your product: With every new HS code list and technical regulation update, knowing exactly what your product requires is half the compliance challenge. QIMA's certification experts identify the applicable technical regulations, required documentation, and approval type before your application is submitted.
How QIMA SASO Certification Works
Step 1 — Tell us your product and target market: Share your product details, HS code, and the Saudi market requirements you need to meet. QIMA's certification experts determine whether your product is regulated under SASO technical regulations and identify exactly which certificates and documentation are required.
Step 2 — Compliance requirements confirmed: For regulated products, QIMA confirms the applicable Technical Regulations, required test reports, inspection scope, and approval type (1a, 3, or 5). You receive a clear checklist of what's needed before any testing begins — no surprises mid-application.
Step 3 — Testing and inspection conducted: QIMA carries out the required product testing and/or factory inspection in accordance with SASO standards. All results are documented in the format required for SABER submission. For non-regulated products, QIMA guides you through the self-declaration process.
Step 4 — Product Certificate of Conformity (PCoC) issued: QIMA submits your compliance documentation through the SABER platform and issues your PCoC — valid for 12 months, covering all shipments of the certified product during that period. Regulated products must hold a valid PCoC before any shipment certificate can be issued.
Step 5 — Shipment Certificate of Conformity (SCoC) issued per consignment: For each shipment — regulated or non-regulated — QIMA issues an SCoC through SABER. The certificate is automatically verified by the FASAH customs system, ensuring smooth clearance at Saudi ports with no manual documentation required at the border.
SASO-Approved Certificates for Saudi Market Entry — Issued Through SABER
QIMA is an official SASO-approved Conformity Assessment Body, accredited by SAAC to ISO/IEC 17065. Apply for your PCoC and SCoC — and ensure your shipments clear Saudi customs without delays or re-export risk.
Understanding the SABER Platform
SABER is Saudi Arabia's official certification platform — the system through which all Product Certificates of Conformity (PCoC) and Shipment Certificates of Conformity (SCoC) are issued and verified. Every importer selling into the Saudi market interacts with SABER, whether their products are regulated or not. Understanding how the platform assigns risk levels and processes certificate requests helps you plan timelines and know what documentation to prepare before your shipment departs.
QIMA manages the SABER process on your behalf — from product registration and compliance document submission through to certificate issuance. The detail below explains how the platform works.
Product Registration
The importer inputs details of the product into SABER
The SABER system verifies if the product is regulated or not based on HS code or product category
Type Approval Certificate (Product Certificate of Conformity)
Scope: Products that are regulated by Saudi Arabia TR. Click here for a list of technical regulations. For products not regulated by Saudi Arabia TR, self-declaration according to the approved forms by SASO is sufficient – , Type Approval Certificates are not needed.
Validity: One year
Required documents:
Conformity documents such as test reports, quality certificates, risk assessment reports, inspection report etc., if applicable
Design, dimensions, plans, specification photo of the products, if applicable
The Type Approval Certificate will be issued through the SABER system after compliance to relevant standards is proven and after approval by SASO Approved Conformity Assessment Body.
Shipment Certificate of Conformity
Scope: All products
Validity: Per consignment
Required documents:
Type Approval Certificate or self-declaration
Shipment document, such as invoice, packing list etc.
A Shipment Certificate is required for each consignment. Issuance of Shipment Certificates for shipments of non-regulated products and regulated products are done through SABER.
On July 1, 2020 the SABER platform was linked with the FASAH system. This integration ensures the automatic verification of Shipment Certificates – there is no need to print a Shipment Certificate of Conformity (SCoC) as it will automatically be in the FASAH system. Any shipment to Saudi Arabia that does not have an SCoC will be required to be re-exported.
SASO Approved Technical Regulations
QIMA is able to approve Product Certificates of Conformity for a number of product categories. The table below contains details on these SASO approved Technical Regulations, their scope and type of approval.
A note on approval types: Approval types 1a, 3 and 5 refer to the assessment types defined in ISO/IEC 17067. Different conformity assessment activities are required for each type as applicable:
Type 1a: Product testing / inspection
Type 3: Product testing / factory inspection / audit
Type 5: Product testing / factory inspection / surveillance factory audit
*Textile Products & Auto Spare Parts are subject to a Categorized Conformity Assessment which enables similar products to be grouped together covered by a single PCoC. This effectively reduces the number of PCoCs required for importing products into Saudi Arabia and streamlines the certification process.
For a full list of SASO approved Technical Regulations, click here.
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QIMA is a SASO-approved Conformity Assessment Body, independently accredited by the Saudi Accreditation Center (SAAC) to ISO/IEC 17065:2012 — authorized to issue PCoCs and SCoCs through SABER for products exporting from Asia, Europe, the Americas, the Middle East, and Africa.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How much does SASO certification cost?
Pricing depends on your product category, the applicable Technical Regulations, and the approval type required (1a, 3, or 5). QIMA provides fixed-fee quotes — request a quote online and receive pricing within 24 hours.
2. How long does SASO certification take?
Timeline depends on the product, approval type, and whether testing or factory inspection is required. Type 1a (product testing only) is typically faster than Type 3 or 5 (which include factory inspection or surveillance audits). QIMA confirms the expected timeline when your certification plan is agreed. For shipments with a fixed departure date, contact us as early as possible — a valid PCoC must be in place before an SCoC can be issued.
3. How do I know if my product needs a Product Certificate of Conformity?
Regulated products — those covered by a SASO Technical Regulation — require a full PCoC issued by an approved Conformity Assessment Body like QIMA. Non-regulated products require only a self-declaration and an SCoC. QIMA's experts confirm your product's regulatory status from the HS code and product category — contact us and we'll confirm within 24 hours.
4. My product isn't regulated — do I still need documentation for Saudi customs?
Yes. Since January 2025, all shipments to Saudi Arabia — regulated and non-regulated — require a Shipment Certificate of Conformity (SCoC) issued through SABER. Without an SCoC, your shipment will be required to be re-exported. QIMA can issue SCoCs for non-regulated products and guide you through the self-declaration process.
5. How long is a SASO certificate valid?
A Product Certificate of Conformity (PCoC) is valid for 12 months from the date of issue, covering all shipments of the certified product during that period. A Shipment Certificate of Conformity (SCoC) is issued per consignment — a new SCoC is required for every shipment, regardless of whether your PCoC is still valid.
6. What happens if my product fails testing?
You receive a detailed test failure report identifying which requirement wasn't met and why. QIMA's technical team provides guidance on corrective steps — design changes, material substitutions, or labelling updates. Once corrections are made, retesting can be arranged. A PCoC cannot be issued until your product demonstrates full compliance with the applicable Technical Regulations.
7. Do I need to register on SABER myself?
Importers of regulated products must register via SABER to initiate the PCoC process. QIMA guides you through registration and the full application process — product detail submission, compliance documentation upload, and certificate issuance coordination. You don't need to navigate the SABER platform alone.
8. Can QIMA certify products manufactured in any country?
QIMA is authorized to issue SASO certificates for products exporting from Asia & Australia, Europe, the Americas, Middle East & North Africa, and Sub-Saharan Africa. If you're unsure whether your manufacturing location falls within QIMA's approved scope, contact us and we'll confirm.
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