SABER certificate and shipment certificate: how to get them

What is the SABER platform, and who runs it?

SABER is an online platform supervised by the Saudi Standards, Metrology and Quality Organization (SASO). Consumer products, their certificates of conformity and their shipment certificates are registered on it before the products enter the Saudi market. The platform serves individuals, importers, government entities and local factories. It has separate tracks for commercial products, for products not intended for display to consumers, and for vehicle imports.

Registration is mandatory for importers and local manufacturers holding a Saudi commercial registration (CR), and the establishment's details are verified through the Ministry of Commerce system. Products subject to Saudi technical regulations need a certificate of conformity issued by a conformity assessment body accepted by SASO, which is then registered on the platform. Products not subject to technical regulations are registered with a self-declaration.

What is the difference between the product certificate and the shipment certificate?

The product certificate of conformity (شهادة مطابقة المنتج) covers the product itself and is issued once for each product subject to a technical regulation. The shipment certificate (شهادة الإرسالية), called «شهادة مطابقة إرسالية» in SASO's training guide, covers one specific shipment and is based on the product certificate. Foreign shipping guides refer to the two certificates as PCoC and SCoC. In Arabic, the official name of the second certificate uses «الإرسالية» (consignment), not «الشحنة» (shipment).

The two certificates are sequential. In a shipment request for regulated products, only products with a product certificate that is still valid appear. For non-regulated products, only products with an issued self-declaration appear.

Who applies, and who issues the certificate?

The supplier (the importer or local manufacturer) applies from its establishment account on SABER, and the conformity assessment body it chooses reviews the request. For regulated products, the importer does not issue the certificate itself. According to SASO's service catalog, the beneficiary of the product certificate service is the manufacturer or supplier, and the beneficiaries of the shipment certificate service for commercial products are the supplier and conformity assessment bodies.

• Importer or manufacturer: Registers the establishment and products, submits requests and pays the fees.
• Conformity assessment body: Reviews the request and issues the product certificate, then approves the shipment request for regulated products. You can choose a body inside or outside Saudi Arabia, provided SASO accepts it, so check the approved list before signing a contract.
• Customs broker: SASO advises customs agencies to check product requirements early, so ask your broker to review the certificates before the customs declaration is opened.

What are the steps to obtain both certificates on SABER?

The process moves from registering the establishment to the product, then the certificate, then the shipment. It branches depending on whether the product is subject to a technical regulation. Before you start, prepare your commercial registration details, the ID or residence permit (iqama) of the owner linked to the CR, contact details, and the establishment's stamp and owner's signature. These are the requirements for the product certificate service in SASO's catalog.

1. Register a new user from the SABER home page, then activate the account of the establishment's authorized representative (registration on the platform is free, according to the FAQs). The authorized representative can add liaison officers with permission to add products and request certificates.
2. Register the product by adding its HS code, type and models. Before that, you can check the product's status and classification in the "Knowledge Center" by searching by code or keyword.
3. For a product subject to a technical regulation: Apply to an accepted conformity assessment body for a product certificate of conformity, and register the certificate on SABER.
4. For a non-regulated product: Issue a self-declaration through the dedicated service and confirm that it is accurate. The SABER page states that issuing a self-declaration for imported products is free.
5. "New shipment conformity" request: Enter a short name for the shipment, select the products, and add the invoice or invoices. Then complete each product's details (invoice, unit, value, models, quantity and barcode number), choose the country of shipment and accept the undertakings.
6. Body approval: The request is sent to the body that issued the product certificate, and its status shows as "Pending certificate issuance". Non-regulated products do not need a decision from a conformity assessment body.
7. Payment and download: A consolidated invoice is issued with a SADAD payment number. You can pay by SADAD, mada, Visa, Mastercard or Apple Pay, then download the certificate from the platform.

If barcodes are not available at the time of the request, the system lets you state the reason and undertake to provide the numbers later. Shipments imported for non-commercial purposes (raw materials, production lines and their spare parts, government projects, research and innovation, or personal shipments) have a separate service called "Shipment conformity for non-commercial products". Its documents depend on the category and include, for example, the industrial license, the invoice and the bill of lading.

How does customs verify the certificate at clearance?

SASO announced that, from 1 October 2025, the shipment certificate is a basic requirement before any customs declaration on imports is submitted, covering both regulated and non-regulated products. SASO had earlier announced that SABER would be linked to the FASAH platform so the shipment certificate can be verified electronically when the customs declaration is issued.

In practice, this means the certificate must be issued and valid before the declaration is opened, and the declaration details (items, quantities and codes) must be consistent with the certificate details. SASO advises customs agencies to check product requirements early and prepare conformity documents before shipping. The SASO pages we reviewed do not explain in detail how fields are matched, so ask your broker about the current verification checks. For the other stages of clearance, see import customs clearance steps.

Which products are covered, and what is exempt?

Registration on SABER covers consumer products under SASO's scope that are sold in the Saudi market, whether imported or made locally. The official pages we reviewed contain no fixed list of goods. The reference is the SABER "Knowledge Center", searched by HS code, because technical regulations are updated continually.

• Products made in Saudi Arabia for export do not require a Saudi certificate of conformity and follow the rules of the importing country.
• Raw materials covered by an industrial exemption from the Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources do not currently need to be registered, according to the SABER FAQs.
• For temporarily exported goods that are to be brought back, ZATCA offers a "Request for exception from SABER certificate" service, which the customs broker submits through ZATCA's website.
• A certificate for a product made in one country does not apply to the same product if it is made in another country.

SABER and the Saudi Food and Drug Authority

The Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) is independent of SASO. It has its own regulations and clearance approvals for imported food, cosmetics, medicines and medical devices. Food clearance permits are issued by SFDA after customs refers the documents, and SFDA has issued its own "shipment conformity" certificates for imported cosmetics. Do not assume your product is in or out of SABER because of its category. Check its HS code in the Knowledge Center, and ask both authorities about the product's requirements.

What documents and information should you prepare?

Documents depend on the product type and its risk level, and are set by the technical regulation for each product on SABER. A shipment request usually requires:

• The commercial invoice showing each product's value, unit and quantity.
• The HS code, model numbers, brand and country of origin.
• Barcode numbers, or the reason they are not available with an undertaking to provide them.
• Country of shipment details, and the bill of lading for the non-commercial track.
• A valid product certificate of conformity or a self-declaration, depending on the product's status.

For wider customs details, see documents required for import and export. Since 1 October 2026, SABER requires the supplier's name and CR number to be shown on the product as part of the labeling information under 10 technical regulations, so check the regulation for your product.

What are the common mistakes, and how can you avoid them?

Most SABER certificate problems come from inconsistent data across the product, the shipment and the customs declaration, and from requesting too late. The table summarizes the most frequent mistakes and how to avoid them.

For more on the causes and costs of delays, see why shipments are delayed at the port.

Frequently asked questions