| SABER | SASO platform that issues conformity certificates before goods enter Saudi Arabia |
| FASAH | Customs single window (ZATCA) where the declaration is filed and cleared |
| Two certificates | PCoC (per product, ~1 year) then SCoC (per shipment) |
| Issued by | SASO-approved Conformity Assessment Bodies (CABs) |
| 2026 change | New HS codes need a Ministry of Industry declaration for the SCoC |
| Key benefit | SCoC auto-flows from SABER to FASAH — no printing, faster clearance |
If you ship goods into Saudi Arabia, two systems decide whether your cargo clears or sits at the port: SABER and FASAH. Since 1 October 2025 no shipment can be released without a SABER conformity certificate, and I have seen first-hand how one missing document turns a routine import into days of demurrage. This guide explains what each platform does, how the two certificates differ, the exact order of steps, the 2026 rule change, and the reasons certificates get rejected.
SABER and FASAH: what each one does
SABER is the electronic platform of the Saudi Standards, Metrology and Quality Organization (SASO). Its job is conformity: it confirms that imported products meet Saudi technical standards and issues the certificates that prove it. FASAH is the customs single window run under ZATCA (the Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority), where you file the customs declaration, pay duties and book the actual release of the goods. One platform judges the product; the other moves the shipment.
The important part for shippers is that the two are integrated. Since SASO and ZATCA linked the systems, your shipment certificate transfers automatically from SABER into FASAH, so customs verifies conformity at the moment you pull the declaration. You no longer print the certificate or attach it by hand, which removes a whole class of clerical delays.
The two certificates: PCoC and SCoC
People often say "the SABER certificate" as if there is one. There are two, and confusing them is the most common reason a first shipment stalls.
- Product Certificate of Conformity (PCoC) — issued once per product (or product family) after a Conformity Assessment Body reviews your documents and test reports. It confirms the product itself meets Saudi standards and is typically valid for one year. Regulated products cannot get a shipment certificate without it.
- Shipment Certificate of Conformity (SCoC) — issued for each individual consignment, referencing the PCoC. This is the one customs inspects. You raise it in SABER for every load, even when the goods are identical to last time.
So the PCoC is the slow, do-it-once approval; the SCoC is the fast, per-consignment step that gates release at the border.
Step by step: clearing an import through SABER and FASAH
- Classify the product. Register it in SABER under its HS code and confirm whether it is regulated or non-regulated. Getting this wrong means you are assessed against the wrong standard, which fails automatically.
- Pick a SASO-approved CAB. Only accredited Conformity Assessment Bodies can issue the certificates, so choose one that already handles your product category.
- Obtain the PCoC. Submit technical documents and accredited test reports. For electricals this usually means an IECEE CB test report; the CAB reviews everything and issues the product certificate.
- Request the SCoC for the consignment. With the PCoC in place, raise a shipment certificate in SABER for that load. If your goods fall under the new HS codes (see below), attach the Ministry of Industry declaration at this point.
- File and clear in FASAH. The certificate flows into customs automatically; you submit the declaration, the system verifies conformity, you settle duties through Fasah Pay and follow the cargo via MASAR until release.
What changed for 2026
Two updates matter this year. First, from 15 September 2025 a new list of HS codes requires importers to attach a declaration approved by the Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources when requesting an SCoC. If your product is on that list and you skip the declaration, the shipment certificate will not issue. Second, clearance through SABER now depends on the entity being compliant with ZATCA requirements, so your tax and customs registration has to be in order before the goods move.
Why SABER certificates get rejected
Most rejections are avoidable and trace back to a handful of mistakes:
- Wrong product classification — the product is assessed against standards that do not apply, so it fails on contact.
- Missing test reports — regulated electricals without a valid IECEE CB report are turned away.
- Incomplete documentation — gaps or inconsistencies between the invoice, the technical file and the certificate.
- Voltage or frequency mismatch — specifications that do not match Saudi mains trigger additional national-difference testing.
- Expired or short-dated certificates — a certificate that lapses before the goods arrive is treated as invalid, so leave a validity buffer.
Costs and timing
There is no single published price. Fees hinge on the product category, the testing involved and the assessment body you choose, and the PCoC is the part that eats real time because of document review and any lab work. The per-shipment step, once the product approval exists, is quick. The sensible move is to finish product certification well before you book freight, then treat each consignment certificate as a routine pre-clearance task rather than a scramble at the port.
How this fits a shipper's workflow
On a freight marketplace like GetTransport, the certificate work sits upstream of the carrier booking, and the lesson we keep relearning is to sequence it correctly. Get the product certified once, keep the PCoC and test reports on file, and raise the shipment certificate as part of preparing each load — not after the truck or vessel is already moving. Done in that order, the SABER-to-FASAH integration does the heavy lifting and Saudi clearance becomes predictable. Done out of order, you pay for it in storage and missed delivery windows.
FAQ
What is the SABER certificate in Saudi Arabia?
SABER is the SASO online platform that issues conformity certificates proving imported products meet Saudi standards; it covers a product certificate (PCoC) and a per-shipment certificate (SCoC).
What is the difference between SABER and FASAH?
SABER handles product conformity and issues the certificates, while FASAH is the customs single window where you file the declaration and clear the goods; the two are integrated so data passes automatically.
What is the difference between a PCoC and an SCoC?
The PCoC is issued once per product after testing and is valid about a year, while the SCoC is issued for each individual shipment and is the certificate customs verifies before release.
Do I still need to print the SABER shipment certificate?
No, once SABER and FASAH are integrated the shipment certificate transfers to customs automatically, so there is no need to print it or attach it manually.
Why was my SABER certificate rejected?
The usual causes are wrong product classification, a missing IECEE test report, incomplete documents, voltage or frequency mismatch, or a certificate that expired before the goods arrived.