SABER Certification for Chemicals in Saudi Arabia: The Complete Importer’s Guide
Your raw materials are at the port, your production line in Riyadh is waiting, and one missing certificate stops everything. For many importers, that certificate is issued through SABER, the conformity platform run by the Saudi Standards, Metrology and Quality Organization (SASO). This guide is written for chemical buyers, manufacturers, and importers in Saudi Arabia, and it explains how SABER certification works from the first registration to cleared cargo. You will also learn how to work with a SABER-compliant chemical supplier in KSA, so the paperwork does not become your problem.
What you will get from this article:
- The basics: what SABER certification in Saudi Arabia is and who can register (the importer, with a Saudi commercial registration).
- The two certificates: the difference between a Product Certificate (PCoC) and a Shipment Certificate (SCoC), and which one your chemical needs.
- The process: how to register in SABER, how to get a SABER certificate, and who can issue it.
- The money: how much a SABER certificate costs in Saudi Arabia, including the platform fees and the costs outside the platform.
- What changed in 2026: the new rules, including 12-digit HS codes, wider product declarations, newly regulated HS codes, and supplier labeling.
- Customs and mistakes: how SABER connects to customs clearance through FASAH and the common errors that delay shipments.
- Supplier selection: the questions to ask before you choose a chemical supplier in Riyadh or anywhere in the Kingdom.
By the end, you will know what to check before your next order and what to ask your supplier. You will also know how to avoid delays at the border. We keep the language simple and practical, and we flag anything you should confirm on the SABER platform, because the rules change.
What Is SABER Certification in Saudi Arabia?
SABER is the online conformity platform run by the Saudi Standards, Metrology and Quality Organization (SASO). Importers use it to register products and obtain conformity certificates before goods can clear Saudi customs. Think of it as a digital checkpoint at the border: the product shows its credentials first, then it moves. It replaced the older paper-based SASO certificate of conformity process.
How SABER fits into SALEEM
SABER was launched under SALEEM, the Saudi product safety program. The goal is simple: products entering the market should meet the Kingdom’s technical requirements. For anyone sourcing industrial raw materials in Saudi Arabia, that matters, because a chemical ends up inside a detergent, a paint, or a building product, and a gap at the start travels down the whole chain.
Who can register in SABER?
The account belongs to the importer, and it requires a Saudi commercial registration. Foreign manufacturers do not register themselves. They work through their Saudi importer. This is the first reason many buyers prefer a local chemical importer in Saudi Arabia: the account, certificates, and follow-up sit with them.
PCoC vs SCoC: The Two Certificates Explained
Product Certificate of Conformity (PCoC)
The PCoC proves that a product meets the technical regulation that applies to it. It is issued through a conformity assessment body approved by SASO and is valid for one year. It is needed for products covered by a technical regulation. Think of it as the product’s passport.
Shipment Certificate of Conformity (SCoC)
The SCoC is the visa for a specific shipment. You obtain the PCoC first (where one applies), then an SCoC for each consignment. Since 1 October 2025, a shipment certificate is reportedly required for every import, including goods not covered by a technical regulation. For those non-regulated products, the path is product registration and an importer declaration, followed by the SCoC. So even if your chemical needs no product certificate, expect a shipment certificate.
How to Register in SABER and Get a Certificate
Register the importer account.
A Saudi importer with a commercial registration opens the SABER account and registers the products it plans to bring in. Accuracy matters here, because later steps rely on what you enter now.
Classify the product by HS code.
The HS code tells you whether the product is regulated and which technical regulation applies. SABER has been using 12-digit codes that are in line with Saudi customs since early 2026; hence, a code that is taken from a prior invoice may be incorrect. Confirm it with your customs broker or conformity body.
Choose a conformity assessment body
For regulated products, you select a conformity assessment body (CAB) approved by SASO. It reviews your application and issues the product certificate through the platform. SASO lists the approved bodies, so compare them based on chemical experience and response time.
What the body reviews: It checks your submission against the regulation that applies to your product. The exact documents and test reports depend on that regulation, so ask the body for its checklist before you start.
Apply for the shipment certificate.
Once the product side is in order, apply for the SCoC for each shipment, with the shipment’s commercial details. Do it before the cargo arrives, not after.
How Much Does a SABER Certificate Cost in Saudi Arabia?
Published SABER platform fees
Several compliance providers cite the same platform fees: SAR 500 for a PCoC and SAR 350 for each SCoC, excluding VAT. With 15% VAT, the SCoC comes to about SAR 402.50. Fees can change, so confirm them on the platform before budgeting.
Costs outside the platform
The platform fee is only part of the bill. Conformity body fees, laboratory testing, audits, and consultancy are charged separately, and they vary by product and regulation. That is why a quoted “SABER cost” from a supplier can look very different from the platform fee. Ask what each quote includes.
What Are the New SABER Rules in Saudi Arabia for 2026?
12-digit HS codes
From 1 January 2026, SABER moved to 12-digit HS codes synchronized with Saudi customs. If you registered products under the old structure, review them. A mismatch can surface at the port instead of at your desk.
Product Declarations and Newly Regulated HS Codes
Compliance consultants report that more product categories now need a Product Declaration approved by the Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources before a shipment certificate can be issued, with steel and building materials among those named. A further notification in July 2026 mapped additional HS codes to existing technical regulations. Check whether your chemical’s code is affected.
Supplier labeling from 1 October 2026
SASO’s labeling requirement, effective 1 October 2026, asks for the Saudi supplier’s name and commercial registration number on products covered by ten specific technical regulations. It does not apply to everything, so confirm whether your product falls under those regulations.
Longer shipment certificate validity
SASO has reportedly extended shipment certificate validity from 60 to 90 days for commercial products, which gives importers more room to plan shipments.
Common Mistakes That Cost Importers Time and Money
Applying late
Starting the shipment certificate after the vessel sails is the classic mistake. Delays at the port usually mean storage charges and frustrated customers. Plan the certificate as part of the booking.
Letting the product certificate lapse
A PCoC lasts a year. If it expires, you cannot keep requesting shipment certificates for that product. Set a calendar reminder well ahead of the date.
Using an outdated HS code
With the 2026 changes, an old code can point to the wrong regulation or none at all. Re-check classifications whenever a notice is published.
SABER and Customs: Where FASAH Fits In
FASAH is the single-window customs platform of the Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority (ZATCA). Industry sources report that SABER shipment certificates flow to FASAH automatically, so customs can verify conformity during clearance. In practice, share the certificate number with your customs broker early and confirm it is valid and consistent with the declaration.
How to Choose a SABER Compliant Chemical Supplier in KSA
Questions to ask before you order
Before you sign a purchase order, ask: Who is the importer of record? Is the product regulated, and if so, is a valid PCoC in place? How is the shipment certificate handled? Can they show documents rather than promises? Reliable suppliers welcome these questions, and good commercial practice also includes asking for the safety data sheet and certificate of analysis with each batch.
Why a Riyadh-based importer lightens your workload
When the supplier is the importer, the SABER account, certificates, and follow-up sit with them. Your team receives material ready for production. Whether you make detergents, paints, or building products, choosing a trusted industrial raw materials supplier in Saudi Arabia reduces the chance of border surprises. To see who is behind Chemadd, visit our About page.
Your Next Step with Chemadd
What to send us
Chemadd supplies Saudi manufacturers with construction chemicals, pigments, paint, ink, coating materials, and plastic additives. Send us the product name, HS code, and expected quantity through our contact page or on WhatsApp, and we will come back with a quotation and the conformity details for your product.
Conclusion
SABER is a rulebook, not a wall. Know whether your product needs a PCoC, plan an SCoC for every shipment, keep your 12-digit HS code correct, and watch the 2026 updates. Then work with a SABER-compliant chemical supplier in KSA who handles the process and gives you clear answers. Review your products now, before your next order.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is SABER certification in Saudi Arabia?
It is the conformity certification system run through SASO’s SABER platform. Importers use it to obtain product and shipment certificates before goods clear Saudi customs.
2. How to get a SABER certificate?
A Saudi importer registers on SABER, classifies the product by HS code, uses an approved conformity body for regulated products to obtain a PCoC, and then applies for an SCoC for each shipment.
3. How much does it cost to get a SABER certificate in Saudi Arabia?
Published platform fees are SAR 500 for a PCoC and SAR 350 per SCoC, excluding VAT. Testing, conformity body, and consultancy fees are extra and vary by product, so confirm current figures before budgeting.
4. Who can issue a SABER certificate?
Conformity assessment bodies approved by SASO issue the certificates through the SABER platform. SASO publishes the list of approved bodies.
5. How to register in SABER?
Registration is done by the importer, who needs a Saudi commercial registration. Foreign manufacturers work through their Saudi importer.
6. What are the new rules in Saudi Arabia for 2026?
Reported changes include 12-digit HS codes from January, wider Product Declaration requirements for some categories, additional HS codes mapped to technical regulations, supplier-name labeling for certain products from 1 October, and longer shipment certificate validity. Check which apply to your product.
7. What is the difference between a PCoC and an SCoC?
A PCoC certifies a product against its technical regulation and lasts a year. An SCoC covers a specific shipment and is obtained for each consignment.
8. Does every chemical need a PCoC?
Only products covered by a technical regulation need one, and that depends on the HS code. A shipment certificate is still reportedly required for non-regulated goods. Verify your product’s classification before shipping.