How to Get a SABER Certificate for Saudi Arabia in 7 Steps
How to get a SABER certificate is the first thing most exporters ask before shipping to Saudi Arabia. Before your products can enter the Saudi market, you’ll probably have to go through some registration and conformity steps on the SABER platform. They exist to check that your products meet the Saudi standards and technical regulations that apply to them.
Honestly, it can feel confusing the first time. But once you know what each step involves, it gets a lot easier. Here’s how to get a SABER certificate in seven steps.
What Is a SABER Certificate?
SABER is the online platform Saudi Arabia uses to manage product conformity for imports. It’s run by SASO, the Saudi Standards, Metrology and Quality Organization.
Which SABER certificate for Saudi Arabia you need depends on the product. Some need a Product Certificate of Conformity (PCoC). Others only need a self-declaration. Commercial shipments covered by the rules also need a Shipment Certificate on top of that. They’re not interchangeable, so check which one applies to you before you start applying.
7 Steps to Get a SABER Certificate
1. Check Your Product Requirements
First, find your product’s category and see whether a Saudi technical regulation covers it. Testing, documents and certification can be very different from one product to another, so don’t assume your last product’s rules apply.
Then look at the standards. If your product needs a conformity assessment, get that done before you go any further.
2. Create a SABER Account
Go to the official SABER platform and sign up for a business or facility account, unless you already have one. Importers handle product registration and certificate applications through it. This is the first part of how to register on SABER.
Double-check your company details before you move on. A wrong detail now can cause trouble in the later steps.
3. Register Your Product
Once your account is up and running, enter your product details on SABER as part of the SABER registration process. Usually that’s the product name, model number, manufacturer information and the customs classification details.
Then compare all of it with your product documents. If something doesn’t match, it can cause problems during the conformity assessment.
4. Identify the Required Certification Route
Next, check out whether your product needs a Product Certificate of Conformity or can go through a self-declaration instead.
If it’s a regulated product, you may have to use a conformity assessment body that SASO accepts. Which route you end up on comes down to the technical regulation and the product category.
5. Submit the Product Conformity Application
If your product needs a PCoC, submit the application on SABER and pick an accepted conformity assessment body. Expect to upload technical documents, test reports, product photos and other supporting files.
In the SABER certificate process, the assessment body then goes through your application and checks the product against the requirements. If it needs more information or another round of testing, it will ask you for it.
6. Obtain the Required Product Certificate
When the assessment is passed, you can register the PCoC through SABER. Self-declaration products follow their own procedure instead.
Records: keep them tidy. And before booking the shipment, look at how long the certificate is valid for and what exactly it covers.
7. Apply for the Shipment Certificate
Once the SABER certificate steps for conformity are done, apply for a Shipment Certificate on SABER for your commercial shipment. Pick the registered products it covers, then add the shipment details and supporting documents it asks for.
Read the application through before you submit. If everything checks out and it’s approved, the Shipment Certificate gets issued.
FAQs
Is a SABER certificate mandatory for all products exported to Saudi Arabia?
Not always. It depends on what the product is and which Saudi regulations cover it. Some products need a Product Certificate of Conformity. Others are on a different compliance route, so don’t assume yours is the same as the next exporter’s.
How much does a SABER certificate cost?
The fee isn’t fixed. What you pay depends on the certificate type and your product category, and if the product needs testing or a third-party assessment, that comes into it too. Find out what applies to you before you start the application.
What happens if I ship products without the required SABER certificate?
Your shipment can get held up at customs if the conformity documents aren’t there, and other compliance problems can follow. Confirm what your product needs and finish those procedures before it ships, not after it’s already on the way.
Summing Up
Learning how to get a SABER certificate isn’t about a single form. You check what your product needs, finish the conformity steps, then apply for the shipment certificate. The exact route changes with the product and the regulation behind it.
Stuck on any part? Atoney can help you sort out the requirements and get ready for the next stage of your export.