What is SABER and why is it mandatory?
SABER is an electronic platform launched by the Saudi Standards, Metrology and Quality Organization (SASO). It mandates the registration and issuance of conformity certificates for products before they enter the Saudi market to ensure safety and quality standards.
1. Product Certificate of Conformity (PCoC)
Issued for the product itself, proving it meets Saudi standards. Valid for exactly one year for a specific product.
2. Shipment Certificate of Conformity (SCoC)
Issued for each specific shipment. It cannot be issued without a valid PCoC and is strictly tied to the Commercial Invoice and Bill of Lading.
The Biggest Risk: Demurrage Fines
If your cargo arrives at Jeddah Islamic Port or Dammam Port without a pre-issued SCoC, the container cannot be cleared. It will sit in the port yard incurring daily Demurrage fines (in USD), which can quickly exceed the value of the goods themselves.
How SafeHands Solves This
We manage the entire import cycle. We verify the PCoC with your factory (in China or Europe), manage SCoC issuance through the SABER platform as soon as the goods are dispatched, and link it to the Saudi FASAH customs platform so clearance can start on arrival.
No Saudi company? No problem.
If you are a foreign exporter with no Saudi entity, we act as your Importer of Record: we handle your SABER registration and certification end to end and lodge the customs declaration as the importer named on it, so no Saudi company is needed on your side. How our IOR service works
SABER registration and certification, handled end to end
We reply within minutes on WhatsApp.
One question decides what you need
A SABER certificate is issued against the importer of record on the Saudi customs declaration, not against the overseas manufacturer.
Does your company hold a Saudi commercial registration?
Frequently Asked Questions
QWhat is SABER and who needs it?
SABER is Saudi Arabia's mandatory product conformity platform, run by SASO. Most commercial goods entering the Kingdom need SABER coverage before customs will clear them.
QWhat's the difference between PCoC and SCoC?
A PCoC (Product Certificate of Conformity) covers the product itself and is valid for a year. An SCoC (Shipment Certificate of Conformity) covers one specific shipment, tied to its invoice and bill of lading, and can only be issued once a valid PCoC exists.
QDo you handle the SABER certificate for me?
Yes. We handle your SABER registration and certification end to end, and the certificate is issued through the SABER platform.
QHow long does SABER registration take?
It depends on your product category and whether a PCoC already exists. Starting the process before your goods sail is what actually prevents port delays — an SCoC cannot be issued without a valid PCoC already in place.
QWhat happens if my shipment arrives without SABER coverage?
Customs will not clear the container without a valid SCoC. It sits in the port yard accumulating daily demurrage fees until certification is resolved — this is the single biggest avoidable cost in the process.