The legal position, in four rules
From ZATCA and the GCC Common Customs Law, checked 10 Oct 2026.
| Every import is declared | Every good entering the Kingdom is declared on a customs declaration, completed electronically by the supplier or their representative; ZATCA calculates duty, excise and VAT on it. (ZATCA Guideline on Imports and Exports under VAT (2nd ed., May 2026), s.1.3, 4.1–4.4) |
| Who can be the importer | The importer is identified by a Saudi CR, a 700 code, a Saudi ID or a GCC ID, and must be licensed to import into the Kingdom. (ZATCA Guideline on Imports and Exports under VAT (2nd ed., May 2026), s.1.3, 4.1–4.4) |
| Who may file | Declarations are accepted from the owners of the goods or their authorised representatives, and from licensed customs brokers. The importer does not have to be the buyer. (GCC Common Customs Law (Bureau of Experts), Arts 2 and 110) |
| VAT registration is not enough | A Saudi VAT registration does not make a foreign seller the importer: it gives no CR or 700 code, and the declaration needs one of the four IDs above. (ZATCA Guideline on Imports and Exports under VAT (2nd ed., May 2026), s.1.3, 4.1–4.4) |
What changes when Safe Hands is the importer
- 1
Declaration
Safe Hands files the customs declaration on FASAH as the importer named on it and as a licensed customs broker.
- 2
Duty, fee and VAT
Duty at the rate of your 12-digit tariff line, ZATCA's 0.15% service fee (min SAR 15, max SAR 500) and 15% import VAT are paid on the declaration, and invoiced back with our fee.
- 3
SABER
The SABER account sits with us as the importer named on the customs declaration. We handle your SABER registration and certification end to end, and from 1 Oct 2026 our name and CR go on products under the ten listed regulations.
- 4
Other approvals
Wireless and IT devices are approved through SABER under SASO's Communications and IT Devices regulation. Food and cosmetics go through SFDA; pharmaceutical and medical products are handled with an SFDA-licensed partner.
- 5
Delivery
We deliver to your Saudi customer's site or hold the stock in our Riyadh warehouse for phased release.
- 6
Documents
You receive the cleared declaration, the duty and VAT receipts and our invoice for each shipment.
- ZATCA Guideline on Imports and Exports under VAT (2nd ed., May 2026), s.1.3, 4.1–4.4
- ZATCA: customs service fee 0.15% of CIF, min SAR 15, max SAR 500 (from 6 Oct 2024)
- SABER FAQs (who registers)
- SASO circular: supplier name and CR on the product (from 1 Oct 2026)
- SASO Technical Regulation for Communications and IT Devices
- SFDA: food clearance requirements
The 10 questions buyers ask before choosing an importer of record
| Question | Our answer |
|---|---|
| Who is the legal importer? | Safe Hands, under CR 1010908989, named on the declaration. |
| Who is liable for duty, VAT and penalties? | We pay duty and VAT on the declaration as the importer and invoice them back; we check the documents before filing so the declaration is right first time. |
| Who handles SABER (PCoC and SCoC)? | We handle your SABER registration and certification end to end, as the importer named on the customs declaration. |
| What about CST and SFDA? | Wireless and IT devices are certified through SABER; food and cosmetics go through SFDA; pharmaceutical and medical products are handled with an SFDA-licensed partner. |
| Can I sell DDP? | Yes. You quote your Saudi customer delivered duty paid; we are the importer and recover duty, VAT and our fee from you. |
| Do you deliver to my customer's site? | Yes, directly to the site, or from our Riyadh warehouse in phases. |
| How is your fee set? | Either as a percentage of the CIF value or as a flat fee per shipment, depending on the shipment value. |
| What if goods are refused? | We tell you the authority's decision and the options it allows straight away, and act on your instruction. |
| Can you handle returns? | Exporter of Record for returns and replacements is reviewed by our team before we quote. |
| How do I verify you? | CR 1010908989, VAT 312637134400003, TGA licence 42/00008120, ISO 9001 and 45001; licensed customs broker. References on request. |
Which model fits you
One-off DDP shipment
We import, clear and deliver a single order to your customer's site.
Repeat stock in Riyadh
Regular shipments imported with us as the importer named on the customs declaration and held in our Riyadh warehouse for phased release.
Growing in the Kingdom
Start as Importer of Record, then stock locally; later assembly or a joint venture may qualify for incentives, subject to the relevant authority.
Importer of Record by country
the USA
Importer of Record for exporters in the USA
the UK
Importer of Record for exporters in the UK
Germany
Importer of Record for exporters in Germany
France
Importer of Record for exporters in France
Italy
Importer of Record for exporters in Italy
China
Importer of Record for exporters in China
India
Importer of Record for exporters in India
Turkey
Importer of Record for exporters in Turkey
the UAE
Importer of Record for exporters in the UAE
Egypt
Importer of Record for exporters in Egypt
Sources
- ZATCA Guideline on Imports and Exports under VAT (2nd ed., May 2026), s.1.3, 4.1–4.4
- GCC Common Customs Law (Bureau of Experts), Arts 2 and 110
- ZATCA: customs service fee 0.15% of CIF, min SAR 15, max SAR 500 (from 6 Oct 2024)
- SABER FAQs (who registers)
- SASO circular: supplier name and CR on the product (from 1 Oct 2026)
- SASO Technical Regulation for Communications and IT Devices
- SFDA: food clearance requirements
Official ZATCA, Bureau of Experts, SABER, SASO and SFDA pages, checked 10 October 2026. The requirements for your product are confirmed when we review your shipment.
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
QCan I import into Saudi Arabia without a Saudi company?
Not as the importer yourself: the declaration needs a Saudi CR, 700 code, Saudi ID or GCC ID. With Safe Hands as your Importer of Record, we are the importer named on the customs declaration and you keep selling to your Saudi customer.
QDoes registering for Saudi VAT let me import?
No. VAT registration gives no CR or 700 code, so it does not make you the importer on the declaration.
QWhat is an Importer of Record?
The Saudi entity named as importer on the customs declaration. It pays duty and VAT at clearance and holds the SABER account; the foreign company stays the seller, usually on DDP terms.
QDo I need to be the owner of the goods to use an IOR?
The Common Customs Law accepts declarations from owners, their authorised representatives and licensed customs brokers, and the importer does not have to be the buyer, which is what makes the Importer of Record model work.
QHow much VAT is due on imports?
15%, on the customs value plus duty, excise and other charges, including goods exempt from customs duty. It is paid on the declaration with the duty.
QWhat is ZATCA's customs service fee?
0.15% of the CIF value, minimum SAR 15 and maximum SAR 500 per declaration, since 6 October 2024.
QWho holds the SABER certificates?
The SABER account and certificates sit with a Saudi CR holder. As your Importer of Record that is Safe Hands, and we handle your SABER registration and certification end to end.
QDoes the Incoterm decide who the importer is?
No. ZATCA treats Incoterms as indicative, not conclusive of the legal relationship. The importer is whoever is named on the declaration with a valid Saudi ID.
QCan you import medical devices or pharmaceuticals?
Pharmaceutical and medical products are handled with an SFDA-licensed partner.
QHow long does clearance take?
Pre-arrival filing is mandatory at Saudi seaports since 29 October 2025, and we lodge the FASAH declaration at least 48 hours before arrival. Customs clearance in under 4 hours (commercial FCL) once the shipment is in.
QCan you hold my stock in Saudi Arabia?
Yes, in our dry and ambient warehouse in Al Sulay, Riyadh, with phased release to your customers. We arrange bonded storage through free-zone and bonded-port facilities.
QHow do I start?
Send the Importer of Record (IOR) Quote with your product, HS code and destination. Foreign exporters can also WhatsApp or call our USA line, +1 (202) 989-7969.
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 →
Sell into Saudi Arabia: we are the importer named on the customs declaration
Tell us the product, HS code and destination; we reply with the route, the SABER position and a written quote.