Quick answer
Can a Chinese manufacturer sell into Saudi Arabia without a Saudi company?
Yes. The importer named on a Saudi customs declaration must hold a Saudi CR, 700 code, Saudi ID or GCC ID, but it does not have to be the owner or buyer of the goods, so Safe Hands can act as that Importer of Record. There is no GCC-China FTA, so Chinese goods pay the standard (MFN) duty on their 12-digit tariff line plus 15% import VAT, and regulated products need SABER certificates before clearance.
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 →
Trusted by Chinese Exporters Across Industries
From civil aviation suppliers to IT infrastructure providers
Why Chinese Manufacturers Choose Safe Hands
Chinese Compliance Expertise
We understand Chinese export regulations and work with your compliance team to ensure smooth Saudi import clearance.
Direct China Origin Coverage
Full coverage from Ningbo, Shenzhen, Shanghai, and Guangzhou. DDP delivery to Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam, or NEOM.
Vision 2030 Project Ready
We deliver project cargo to sites across the Kingdom, coordinated with your main contractor and to each site's own access requirements.
Our IOR Process
Seamless transition from factory in China to your site in Saudi Arabia.
Document Validation
Commercial invoice, packing list, certificate of origin
Compliance Check
HS code verification, SABER PCoC/SCoC, restricted items review
FASAH Pre-clearance
Filing ZATCA declaration before vessel/flight arrival
Customs Clearance
Duty & VAT payment, physical inspection facilitation if flagged
Final Delivery
To your warehouse, Amazon.sa fulfillment center, or NEOM project site
China to Saudi Arabia: the facts that set your landed cost
| Topic | What applies | Source | Verified on |
|---|---|---|---|
| Customs duty basis | Duty is set per 12-digit line of the ZATCA Integrated Tariff (12 digits in all GCC states since 1 Jan 2025). The GCC common external tariff's general rate is 5% of CIF value, but Saudi Arabia applies many line-level deviations, so the live 12-digit line governs. | ZATCA Integrated Tariff; GCC Common External Tariff | 1 and 5 Oct 2026 |
| Customs value | CIF to the Saudi port: the transaction value plus freight, loading, handling and insurance to the place of import, whatever Incoterm the sales contract uses. | Customs Law Art 26; Implementing Regulations Art 1 | 5 Oct 2026 |
| Import VAT | 15% of the customs value plus customs duty, excise and any other charges on the declaration (excluding VAT). Paid at clearance with the duty; a 0% duty line still pays import VAT unless the goods fall in a VAT-exempt category. | VAT Law Art 2; GCC VAT Agreement Art 28(1); ZATCA Imports/Exports Guideline s.4.3-4.4 | 4 Oct 2026 |
| FTA / treaty effect on duty | No GCC-China FTA is in force (talks unfinished), so Chinese-origin goods pay the MFN rate on the 12-digit line. | GAFT list of agreements in force; GCC statements on FTA talks | 5 Oct 2026 |
| Anti-dumping and safeguard duties | GCC anti-dumping, countervailing and safeguard duties are imposed GCC-wide, are product- and often producer-specific, and add to the normal tariff (typical subjects: tiles, batteries, aluminium, electricals, sanitary ware, steel). | GCC Common Law on Anti-Dumping, Countervailing Measures and Safeguards | 5 Oct 2026 |
| Who can be the importer | The importer on the declaration must hold a CR number, 700 code, Saudi ID or GCC ID and be licensed to import. The importer need not be the buyer or owner of the goods. | ZATCA VAT Imports/Exports Guideline s.4.2; GCC Common Customs Law Arts 2(29), 110 | 1 and 4 Oct 2026 |
| Certificate of origin | Required with the Saudi declaration when preferential treatment is claimed or when origin marking cannot be fixed on the goods. It can follow after clearance against a guarantee or written undertaking, due within 90 days. | ZATCA Customs Procedures Controls Art 3 | 5 Oct 2026 |
| Chinese export side | Dual-use items under China's Regulations on Export Control of Dual-Use Items (from 1 Dec 2024) need a MOFCOM licence held by the Chinese supplier; the 2026 licence catalogue applies from 1 Jan 2026, and the Saudi buyer usually signs an end-user certificate. | PRC Export Control Law; State Council dual-use regulations; MOFCOM/GACC Announcement 2025 No. 91 | 5 Oct 2026 |
| Documents | Detailed commercial invoice, bill of lading or air waybill, certificate of origin where required, agency certificates (such as the SABER SCoC) and packing list. | ZATCA Customs Procedures Controls Art 3 | 1 Oct 2026 |
| SABER / SFDA path | Regulated goods of Chinese origin need a SABER PCoC per model and an SCoC per shipment; wireless and ICT devices need a SASO Type 1a certificate in SABER; from 1 Oct 2026 ten SASO technical regulations require the Saudi importer's name and CR on the product. Food runs through SFDA, not SABER. | SASO SABER; SASO CIT technical regulation; SFDA | 30 Sep to 5 Oct 2026 |
Step by step: China to a Saudi buyer
| Step | What happens | Who | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chinese supplier confirms whether the goods are on China's dual-use control list and holds any MOFCOM export licence required. | Chinese supplier | PRC dual-use regulations |
| 2 | Classify the goods to the 12-digit Saudi tariff line and read its duty, restriction type and required procedures. | Importer with Safe Hands | ZATCA Integrated Tariff |
| 3 | Register the product in SABER, obtain the PCoC through a SASO-approved conformity body, and confirm the Arabic label (importer name and CR where the regulation requires it) before loading. | Importer; manufacturer; conformity body | SASO SABER |
| 4 | Confirm the importer's FASAH account and customs card are active and Safe Hands is authorised as the licensed customs broker. | Importer | ZATCA FASAH |
| 5 | Request the SCoC for the shipment with the invoice data, and collect the invoice, bill of lading or air waybill, certificate of origin where required and packing list. | Importer; conformity body; supplier | SASO SABER; ZATCA Customs Procedures Controls |
| 6 | Carrier lodges the manifest before arrival; Safe Hands files the incoming declaration with the 12-digit code, origin, value, Incoterm, freight and insurance. | Carrier; Safe Hands | ZATCA FASAH |
| 7 | Duty, 15% import VAT and the customs service fee are calculated on the declaration and paid. | Importer (funds); Safe Hands (submits) | ZATCA FASAH; SADAD |
| 8 | Risk selection (release, document check or examination), then delivery order, terminal charges and gate-out. | ZATCA and agencies; importer or forwarder | ZATCA FASAH |
SABER for your shipment
SABER is SASO's platform where product and shipment certificates are registered. What it means for goods you ship to us as your Importer of Record:
Who issues the SABER certificate?
For a regulated product, a conformity body accepted by SASO issues the Product Certificate of Conformity (PCoC), which is then registered on SABER. Certificates from bodies outside the Kingdom count only if the body is on SASO's accepted list. As your Importer of Record, we register the product and its certificates on SABER.
What does each shipment need?
A shipment certificate (SCoC) for every shipment: issued on SABER in 1–2 working days, valid for 90 days, SAR 350 excluding VAT. The PCoC costs SAR 500 excluding VAT on SABER and is valid for one year; the conformity body's own fees are quoted per HS code.
My product has no technical regulation. Does it still go through SABER?
Yes. A non-regulated product still needs product registration on SABER, an importer self-declaration and a shipment certificate for each shipment.
How do I know which approval my product needs?
From its 12-digit tariff line: the Required Procedures of that line in the ZATCA Integrated Tariff state whether it needs a SABER certificate, an SFDA release or another approval. Send us the HS code or a product description and we check it.
Sources: saber.sa (FAQs, services, non-regulated products, shipment certificate); SASO service catalogue; ZATCA Integrated Tariff. Checked 10 October 2026.
Where will your stock sit?
When your goods land, they either clear into the Saudi market straight away or wait under customs control. That choice decides when customs duty and import VAT are paid.
Duty-paid stock in Riyadh
We clear the goods on arrival. Customs duty (the rate of the 12-digit tariff line on the customs value), the 0.15% customs service fee and 15% import VAT are paid on the customs declaration. The stock is then free to sell and ships from our Riyadh warehouse.
Bonded storage
We arrange bonded storage through free-zone and bonded-port facilities. Import VAT is suspended together with customs duty while goods stay in a customs warehouse and falls due when they are released into the Saudi market; ZATCA may ask for a guarantee for that amount. Our licensed customs team clears each release.
How bonded storage worksSources: ZATCA Guideline on Imports and Exports under VAT (Second Edition, May 2026), sections 4.1–4.4 and 5.2; ZATCA customs service fee (from 6 October 2024). Checked 11 October 2026.
Store with us
Keep your stock in the Kingdom with the same team that imports and clears it.
- Storage in Riyadh: duty-paid in our warehouse, or bonded through free-zone and bonded-port facilities
- Pick, pack and order preparation
- B2B distribution across the Kingdom
- One partner from customs clearance to delivery
Frequently Asked Questions
QWhat is an Importer of Record in Saudi Arabia?
An Importer of Record (IOR) is a legally registered Saudi entity that handles customs declarations, duty payments, VAT, and regulatory approvals on behalf of foreign companies that do not have a local Saudi entity.
QCan I import to Saudi Arabia without a local company?
Yes. By using a licensed IOR service provider like Safe Hands Shipping Line, you can import commercial goods into Saudi Arabia without establishing a local company or obtaining a Commercial Registration (CR).
QWhat is SABER and do I need it?
SABER is Saudi Arabia's mandatory product conformity platform. Most imported goods require a Product Certificate of Conformity (PCoC) and Shipment Certificate of Conformity (SCoC) before customs clearance. As your IOR, we manage this process.
QHow long does customs clearance take in Saudi Arabia?
Clearance time depends on the channel ZATCA assigns and on how complete your documents are. We file ahead through FASAH so the declaration is ready when the shipment lands, which is the part we control.
QDo I need a Chinese export license to use IOR services?
You export normally from China under your own export registration, and we act as the Importer of Record on the Saudi side.
QHow is the Importer of Record fee charged?
Either as a percentage of the CIF value or as a flat fee per shipment, depending on the shipment value. Duties and 15% VAT are paid at clearance and invoiced back with the fee, usually on DDP terms.
QWhat do I file on the Chinese side before exporting to Saudi Arabia?
Your forwarder or customs broker in China files the export declaration with China Customs under your company's customs registration. On the Saudi side we handle SABER, the FASAH declaration, duties and VAT as Importer of Record.
QWhich certificate of origin and test reports work for Saudi Arabia?
A certificate of origin issued by CCPIT (the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade) or by China Customs. For SABER, existing test reports from accredited laboratories can often support the product certificate through a SASO-approved certification body; we confirm this per product before shipping.
QIs there a free trade agreement between China and Saudi Arabia?
Not yet. GCC-China FTA talks are unfinished, and the goods preferences available at the Saudi border are the GCC customs union, GAFTA, GCC-EFTA and GCC-Singapore. Chinese-origin goods pay the MFN rate on their 12-digit tariff line. Source: GAFT list of agreements in force (verified 5 Oct 2026).
QWhat import duty rate applies to goods from China?
The rate on the goods' 12-digit line in the ZATCA Integrated Tariff. The GCC general rate is 5% of CIF value, but Saudi Arabia applies many line-level deviations (for example 0%, 6.5%, 10%, 15% or 20%), so the live line must be read before quoting. Source: ZATCA Integrated Tariff; GCC Common External Tariff (verified 1 and 5 Oct 2026).
QHow is the 15% import VAT calculated on a shipment from China?
Import VAT is 15% of the customs value (CIF to the Saudi port) plus customs duty, excise and any other charges on the declaration. It is paid at clearance together with the duty, and a 0% duty line still pays it. Source: VAT Law Art 2; GCC VAT Agreement Art 28(1) as quoted in ZATCA's Imports Guideline (verified 4 Oct 2026).
QDo anti-dumping duties apply to some Chinese goods?
They can. GCC anti-dumping, countervailing and safeguard duties are product- and often producer-specific and are added to the normal tariff; tiles, batteries, aluminium, electricals, sanitary ware and steel are typical subjects. The latest GCC bulletin for the product and the named producer should be read before quoting. Source: GCC Common Law on Anti-Dumping (verified 5 Oct 2026).
QHow are Chinese wireless or ICT devices approved?
The approval runs inside SABER. Devices on the CIT technical regulation list need a SASO Type 1a conformity certificate from a SASO-accepted conformity body, the device must meet CST technical specifications, and no separate CST certificate application is made. Source: SASO CIT technical regulation; SABER (verified 3 and 5 Oct 2026).
QWhose name has to appear on certain products from 1 October 2026?
For ten SASO technical regulations (including trailers, tanks, simple pressure vessels, small solar PV systems and electrical lifts), the Saudi importer's or local manufacturer's name and CR number must appear on the product from 1 October 2026. Under an Importer of Record model that is the IOR's name and CR. Source: SABER circular on supplier name and CR (verified 30 Sep 2026).
QWhich Chinese goods need an export licence before shipping to Saudi Arabia?
Items on China's dual-use control list. Since 1 Dec 2024 these are licensed by MOFCOM under the State Council's dual-use regulations, the 2026 licence catalogue applies from 1 Jan 2026, the Chinese supplier holds the licence, and the Saudi buyer usually signs an end-user or end-use certificate. Battery, rare-earth and drone cargo should be re-checked before quoting. Source: PRC dual-use regulations; MOFCOM/GACC Announcement 2025 No. 91 (verified 5 Oct 2026).
QCan my Chinese company hold the SABER account itself?
SABER accounts are held by importers, local factories, individuals and government entities; foreign exporters have no direct access, so the Saudi importer holds the account and the certificates. Source: saber.sa services page (verified 30 Sep 2026).
QWhat if the certificate of origin or original invoice arrives late?
A missing document, including the original invoice, does not stop clearance: goods can be released against a cash or bank guarantee or a written undertaking, with the document due within 90 days. Source: ZATCA Customs Procedures Controls Arts 3(4) and 5(2) (verified 4 Oct 2026).
Sources
- ZATCA Integrated Tariff — 12-digit duty lines and required procedures (verified 1 Oct 2026)
- Saudi Customs Law Art 26 and Implementing Regulations — CIF customs value (verified 5 Oct 2026)
- VAT Law Art 2 and ZATCA Imports/Exports Guideline — 15% import VAT, VAT base, importer requirements (verified 4 Oct 2026)
- ZATCA Customs Procedures Controls Arts 3 and 5 — certificate of origin and late documents (verified 4 and 5 Oct 2026)
- GAFT list of trade agreements in force — FTA status (verified 5 Oct 2026)
- PRC dual-use export control regulations (MOFCOM) — Chinese export licences (verified 5 Oct 2026)
- SASO SABER (saber.sa) and CIT technical regulation — PCoC, SCoC, Type 1a, supplier-name circular (verified 30 Sep and 3 Oct 2026)
- GCC Technical Secretariat for Anti-Injurious Practices — anti-dumping and safeguard measures (verified 5 Oct 2026)
Duty is set per 12-digit tariff line and rules change; we confirm the live line for your product before quoting.
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