How clearance works with Safe Hands
- 1
Documents first
You send the commercial invoice, the bill of lading or air waybill and the certificate of origin where needed. We check them against your HS lines before the vessel sails.
- 2
HS line and approvals
We read each 12-digit tariff line: the duty rate and the required procedures (SABER, SFDA or other approvals) for your goods.
- 3
SABER
We handle your SABER registration and certification end to end, so the shipment certificate is ready for the declaration.
- 4
Declaration on FASAH
Pre-arrival filing is mandatory at Saudi seaports since 29 October 2025. We lodge the FASAH declaration at least 48 hours before arrival; for air cargo, as soon as the air waybill is issued.
- 5
Duty, VAT and release
Duty, ZATCA's service fee and 15% import VAT are paid on the declaration; after inspection the goods are released. Customs clearance in under 4 hours (commercial FCL).
- 6
Delivery
We truck the container to your site anywhere in the Kingdom, or into our Riyadh warehouse.
Documents for import clearance
ZATCA's list, plus the certificates your goods need:
- Commercial invoice
- Bill of lading (sea) or air waybill (air)
- Certificate of origin, where origin is not marked on the goods or preference is claimed
- The approvals your HS line requires, such as the SABER shipment certificate or SFDA release
- A packing list, which we ask for to check the goods line by line
A missing document does not always stop clearance: ZATCA can release goods against a guarantee or undertaking, with the document due later.
What you pay on a declaration
| Customs duty | A percentage of the CIF customs value, set by the 12-digit tariff line. The GCC common tariff has a general rate of 5%, but Saudi Arabia applies many line-level rates; the live tariff line decides. (ZATCA Integrated Tariffs (12-digit lines since 1 Jan 2025)) |
| ZATCA service fee | 0.15% of the CIF value, minimum SAR 15 and maximum SAR 500 per declaration (SAR 130 cap for VAT-exempt shipments), since 6 October 2024. (ZATCA: customs service fee 0.15% of CIF, min SAR 15, max SAR 500 (from 6 Oct 2024)) |
| Import VAT | 15% on the customs value plus duty, excise and other charges, paid on the declaration, including goods exempt from duty. (ZATCA Guideline on Imports and Exports under VAT (customs value, 15% VAT)) |
| Our clearance charge | Charged per customs declaration. The Customs Clearance Quote shows duty, VAT, the ZATCA fee, SABER and our charge for your lines. |
Where we clear
- Jeddah Islamic Port
- King Abdulaziz Port, Dammam
- Jubail and Yanbu commercial ports
- Jazan Port
- Riyadh Dry Port
- King Khalid International Airport, Riyadh (air cargo)
All are ZATCA customs ports on FASAH.
Your route: with or without a Saudi CR
You have a Saudi CR
You are the importer; Safe Hands clears as your licensed customs broker. Start with the Customs Clearance Quote.
No Saudi company
Safe Hands is the importer named on the customs declaration. See how an Importer of Record works.
Need SABER first?
PCoC per product, SCoC per shipment, and the HS code that decides.
Clearance by port and city
Sources
- ZATCA Import Instructions (FASAH, documents)
- ZATCA: mandatory pre-arrival customs declaration at seaports (from 29 Oct 2025)
- ZATCA: customs service fee 0.15% of CIF, min SAR 15, max SAR 500 (from 6 Oct 2024)
- ZATCA Integrated Tariffs (12-digit lines since 1 Jan 2025)
- ZATCA Guideline on Imports and Exports under VAT (customs value, 15% VAT)
- GCC Common Customs Law (Bureau of Experts), Art 110
- ZATCA shipment tracking: customs port list
- ZATCA Customs Procedures Controls
Official ZATCA and Bureau of Experts pages, checked 10 October 2026. Rates and procedures for your goods are confirmed on the live tariff line when we review your shipment.
Frequently Asked Questions
QDo I need to be in Saudi Arabia to clear my shipment?
You can clear from anywhere. If your company holds a Saudi commercial registration, Safe Hands, a licensed customs broker, clears the shipment on your behalf. If it doesn't, our Importer of Record service covers the same clearance with Safe Hands named as importer on the declaration, so nothing requires your physical presence.
QHow long does customs clearance take?
We file FASAH pre-clearance at least 48 hours before your shipment arrives, so the declaration is ready when it lands. Actual clearance time still depends on the channel ZATCA assigns and how complete your documentation is.
QDo you handle SABER certificates?
Yes. We handle your SABER registration and certification end to end, and the certificate is issued through the SABER platform.
QWhat happens if my shipment doesn't have SABER coverage yet?
We can initiate SABER registration for you, but this adds lead time before the shipment can be released — it's worth starting as early as possible, ideally before the goods sail.
QWhen do you file the customs declaration?
Before arrival. For air cargo we lodge the FASAH declaration as soon as the air waybill is issued, while the shipment is in the air; for sea cargo at least 48 hours before the vessel arrives. The shipment is then ready to release instead of starting the paperwork at the port.
QDo you clear under your own customs broker licence?
Yes. Safe Hands is a licensed customs broker: our own licensed team files the declaration on FASAH and clears the shipment under our licence.
QWho issues SABER certificates?
SABER certificates are issued on the SABER platform by conformity assessment bodies accredited by SASO. We handle your registration and the certificate requests end to end.
QWhat container loads do you ship by sea?
Full container loads (FCL), 20 ft and 40 ft. Smaller or urgent cargo goes by commercial air freight, which we also quote.
QHow fast is clearance once the container arrives?
Customs clearance in under 4 hours (commercial FCL), because the declaration and SABER certificates are ready before arrival.
QAre you a licensed customs broker?
Yes. Safe Hands is a licensed customs broker; the declaration is filed by our own licensed team.
QCan I buy customs clearance on its own?
Yes. Customs clearance is sold on its own or as part of your import. The Customs Clearance Quote gives an instant estimate by HS code.
QHow is customs duty calculated?
As a percentage of the CIF customs value, set by the 12-digit tariff line. The GCC common tariff has a general rate of 5%, but Saudi Arabia applies many line-level rates; the live line decides, and the Customs Clearance Quote shows it for your goods.
QWhich documents do you need?
The commercial invoice, the bill of lading or air waybill, the certificate of origin where needed, and the approvals your HS line requires, such as the SABER shipment certificate. A packing list helps us check the goods line by line.
QDo you clear air cargo too?
Yes, at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, with the declaration lodged while the shipment is in the air.
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 →
Clear your next shipment with a licensed customs broker
Instant estimate by HS code: duty, VAT, ZATCA fee, SABER and our charge.