What is the difference between a PCoC and a shipment certificate?

The product certificate of conformity shows a regulated product meets Saudi standards and technical regulations. The shipment certificate is issued for each shipment, regulated or not, so it can clear customs.

How much does SABER cost?

SABER charges SAR 500 to register a product certificate of conformity and SAR 350 per shipment certificate, before VAT; self-declarations for imported non-regulated products are free. Certification bodies charge separately.

Who applies for a SABER certificate?

The importer or the local manufacturer, registered on SABER. The certificates are issued through SASO-approved certification bodies.

Term

SABER (Saudi product conformity)

SABER is Saudi Arabia's online platform for product conformity: importers and local manufacturers register their consumer products there and receive the certificates customs needs. A regulated product needs a product certificate of conformity against Saudi technical regulations; every shipment then needs a shipment certificate. It has been mandatory for imports since July 2018.

Also called SABER, SABER certificate, Product Certificate of Conformity, PCoC, SABER shipment certificate, SASO certificateApplies in KSAUpdated 14 October 2026

Which certificate

Product	What SABER needs	SABER fee
Regulated — covered by a Saudi technical regulation	A product certificate of conformity, then a shipment certificate for each shipment	SAR 500 to register the product certificate; SAR 350 per shipment certificate
Non-regulated	A self-declaration, then a shipment certificate	Self-declaration free for imported products; SAR 350 per shipment certificate

SABER, October 2026 — fees exclude VAT

The certificates come through SASO-approved certification bodies, whose own fees SABER doesn't publish, and the portal is open only to importers, approved certification bodies and Saudi customs officials. A shipment certificate's validity has been extended from 60 to 90 days. From 1 October 2026, ten technical regulations require the supplier's name and commercial registration number on the product. SABER counts more than 5.8 million products registered, and sits within SASO's Saudi Product Safety Program.

Worked example: one product, four shipments

Regulated product: product certificate SAR 500 + 4 shipment certificates × SAR 350 = SAR 1,900 · before VAT and the certification body's own fees

SABER's published fees; the shipment count is illustrative.

Clearance

The shipment certificate must reach Saudi customs before the product can enter the market. The customs declaration itself is filed through Fasah at least 48 hours before the shipment arrives, according to the US Commerce Department's country guide.

The mistake people make

Treating the certificate as a formality. The US Commerce Department warns that the process can lead to unnecessary charges if completed incorrectly, and goods that fail SASO standards are either re-exported to the country of origin or destroyed at the importer's expense.

FAQ