Quick answer
About 2,300 lines of the ZATCA integrated tariff carry an export-side code. The main families: petrochemicals and polymers (Ministry of Energy); cement, steel, ores, minerals and scrap (Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources); agricultural products and livestock (MEWA); agarwood (National Center for Wildlife); medicines (SFDA). Livestock feed, bottled water over 1 litre and ice are not exportable.
Which authority issues each export permit?
Export permit families in the ZATCA integrated tariff (snapshot of 12 October 2026):
| Permit family | Typical products | Authority |
|---|---|---|
| Petrochemicals and polymers | Polyethylene, polypropylene, PVC and other primary polymers; methanol, ammonia, urea | Ministry of Energy |
| PET | PET resin, PET bottles and preforms | Ministry of Energy |
| Petroleum derivatives | Fuels, base oils, lubricants, bitumen; LPG and LNG | Ministry of Energy |
| Export licence: cement and steel | Cement and clinker; pig iron, billets, rebar and other iron and steel semis; iron and steel scrap | Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources |
| Mining and minerals | Ores, minerals, salt, sand, stone, marble, gypsum; gold and silver ingots; copper and aluminium scrap | Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources |
| Agricultural export licence | Certain vegetables, olive oil, charcoal, firewood | Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture (MEWA) |
| Livestock | Sheep, goats, camels, cattle, horses | MEWA (and the competent racing bodies for horses and racing camels) |
| Wildlife and CITES | Protected species; agarwood (oud) chips and oud oil | National Center for Wildlife |
| Medicines | Pharmaceuticals (HS chapter 30) | Saudi Food and Drug Authority |
| Waste and scrap | Waste and scrap categories | National Center for Waste Management (MWAN) |
| Security-controlled | Explosives and precursors; chemical precursors; radioactive items | Ministry of Interior, NRRC, General Directorate of Narcotics Control |
| Not exportable | Livestock and poultry feed (barley, sorghum, fodder, corn, soybean); bottled drinking water over 1 litre; ice | ZATCA tariff: prohibited from exporting |
The requirement is set per 12-digit tariff line; we check yours before you book. The "not exportable" row is a government listing.
Which product rules are worth knowing?
| Petrochemicals law | No person may export petroleum or petrochemical materials without a Ministry of Energy licence (Royal Decree M/139, Article 5); converters making plastic articles are outside its scope (Article 3). (Law of Petroleum and Petrochemical Products, Royal Decree M/139 (Bureau of Experts)) |
| Mining permits | Mining-sector export permits are issued through the MIM Export Permit service. (Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources: Export Permit service) |
| Dates | Since 1 October 2025 date exports need a Date Export Certificate from the National Center for Palms and Dates after inspection at an accredited export centre. (National Center for Palms and Dates: date export platform) |
| Agarwood | Agarwood is CITES Appendix II; chips and oud oil need the National Center for Wildlife permit, while retail-packed perfume carries no export-side code. (CITES Appendices (agarwood, Appendix II)) |
| Military and dual-use | Exports of military products need a GAMI licence. (GAMI: issue export licences for military products) |
| WTO notification | Saudi Arabia notified 48 export restriction or licensing measures to the WTO, in force from 27 June 2024. (WTO: Saudi Arabia quantitative restrictions notification G/MA/QR/N/SAU/2) |
How do I check my product?
- 1
Find the 12-digit tariff line
Look up your product in the ZATCA integrated tariff.
- 2
Read the export procedures column
An export-side code names the approval the line needs; some rules sit outside the tariff, such as the date export certificate.
- 3
Get the approval before the declaration
The approval must be on file before the export declaration is filed on FASAH.
- 4
Send it to us
We read the line with you, confirm the approval and file the declaration as a licensed customs broker.
Sources
- ZATCA Integrated Tariff: clearance and exporting procedure codes guide
- ZATCA Export Terms and Conditions
- WTO: Saudi Arabia quantitative restrictions notification G/MA/QR/N/SAU/2
- Law of Petroleum and Petrochemical Products, Royal Decree M/139 (Bureau of Experts)
- Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources: Export Permit service
- National Center for Palms and Dates: date export platform
- CITES Appendices (agarwood, Appendix II)
- GAMI: issue export licences for military products
Official pages, checked 12–14 October 2026. General information, not legal advice; we confirm the requirement for each shipment.
Frequently Asked Questions
QWhich products need an export permit in Saudi Arabia?
Petrochemicals and polymers, petroleum derivatives, cement and steel, ores, minerals and scrap, certain agricultural products, livestock, agarwood and protected species, medicines, waste and security-controlled items. The requirement is set per tariff line.
QDo I need Ministry of Energy approval to export polyethylene or polypropylene?
Yes. Primary polymers carry the Ministry of Energy export approval code, and the approval must be on file before the export declaration.
QDo I need a licence to export scrap metal or cement?
Yes. Cement, clinker and iron and steel scrap need an MIM export licence; copper and aluminium scrap need an MIM export permit.
QDo dates need an export certificate?
Yes. Since 1 October 2025 every date export needs the National Center for Palms and Dates Date Export Certificate.
QDoes oud oil need a CITES permit?
Yes. Agarwood chips and oud oil need a permit from the National Center for Wildlife, Saudi Arabia's CITES authority.
QWhich goods are prohibited from export?
ZATCA lists livestock and poultry feed (barley, sorghum, fodder, corn, soybean), bottled drinking water over 1 litre and ice as prohibited from export.
QHow do I check my own product?
Find its 12-digit line in the ZATCA integrated tariff and read the export procedures column; an export-side code names the approval needed. We check it with you before booking.
QDoes a product with no export-side code need anything?
It needs no tariff-coded approval, but some rules sit outside the tariff, such as the date export certificate; the FASAH export declaration, the certificate of origin and your buyer's import rules still apply.
QAre there customs fees on exports?
ZATCA waived its customs service fees on exports from 6 October 2024.
Our credentials
- Licensed customs broker
- ZATCA customs clearance
- TGA Freight Forwarder & Broker Licence
- 42/00008120
- ISO certification
- ISO 9001:2015 AMER300621 · ISO 45001:2018 AMER300622
- Verify · Certification body's certificate check
- Head office · Warehouse
- 7273 Fatimah Al Zahraa Rd, Riyadh 12837 · Al Sulay industrial district, Riyadh
Safe Hands Shipping Line is the trade name of شركة الايدي الامينة (Al Aidi Al Amina Company). All credentials →
Check your product before you book
Send the product and HS code; we read the tariff line, confirm the approval and send a written Export Quote.