Saudi Arabia applies 5% customs duty on most goods under the GCC Common External Tariff, plus 15% VAT. Most regulated product categories require SASO (Saudi Standards, Metrology and Quality Organisation) conformity certification before entry. For medical devices, the SALEEM program through SFDA applies. Both must be obtained before goods ship.
SASO Certification — The Primary Conformity Requirement
Most regulated products entering Saudi Arabia must have a SASO Certificate of Conformity. The SABER electronic platform (saber.sa) is used for most product categories — importers and manufacturers register products through SABER and obtain a Product Certificate of Conformity (PCoC) and a Shipment Certificate of Conformity (SCoC) for each shipment. The SCoC is required for customs clearance at Saudi ports.
Product categories covered include electrical and electronic products, building materials, toys, textiles, chemicals, food contact materials, and many others. An initial product registration (PCoC) is obtained once per product. A shipment certificate (SCoC) must be obtained for each individual shipment. Both require testing reports from a SASO-approved laboratory.
Key Saudi Regulatory Frameworks
Online portal for Saudi product conformity registration. Product CoC registered once; Shipment CoC per consignment. Most non-food consumer and industrial products use SABER.
Saudi Food and Drug Authority medical device regulatory program. All medical devices entering Saudi Arabia require SFDA registration and SALEEM approval. Process can take 6–18 months for first registration.
Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority manages all Saudi customs clearance. Customs are typically cleared within 2–5 days at Jeddah with complete documentation. HS code accuracy is critical.
Required for food products, food-contact materials, and some cosmetics entering Saudi Arabia. Must be issued by a Saudi-approved halal certification body. Coordinate with Chinese factory pre-production.
Jeddah Islamic Port — Red Sea Gateway
Jeddah Islamic Port is Saudi Arabia's largest and busiest container port, handling the majority of Saudi imports. It is operated by Saudi Ports Authority (Mawani) and is the primary entry point for goods destined for Riyadh, Jeddah, Mecca, and the western and central regions of Saudi Arabia. King Abdul Aziz Port in Dammam serves the Eastern Province and Gulf coast. Both ports have efficient clearance systems with typical dwell times of 2–5 days for organised importers with complete documentation.
Required Import Documents — Saudi Arabia
| Document | Notes | Required? |
|---|---|---|
| Commercial Invoice | Must be attested by Saudi Embassy in China for some categories. In Arabic or with Arabic translation. | Mandatory |
| Packing List | Detailed per carton. Match invoice exactly. | Mandatory |
| Bill of Lading | Original or Telex Release | Mandatory |
| Certificate of Origin | Attested by Saudi Embassy or approved chamber in China | Mandatory |
| SABER Shipment CoC | Per-shipment conformity certificate from SABER platform for regulated product categories | Mandatory (regulated products) |
| SFDA/SALEEM Approval | Saudi Food and Drug Authority registration and SALEEM approval for medical devices | Medical devices |
| Halal Certificate | From Saudi-approved halal body for food and food-contact products | Food products |
| Insurance Certificate | Marine cargo insurance | Recommended |
Saudi Arabia — Vision 2030 Procurement Opportunities
Saudi Vision 2030 is driving unprecedented infrastructure investment across the Kingdom — NEOM, Red Sea Project, Qiddiya, and massive housing, healthcare, and renewable energy programs. Contractors, developers, and government suppliers are sourcing construction materials, solar equipment, MEP systems, and specialist equipment from China at scale.
Plutonia serves EPC contractors, materials suppliers, and government procurement programs importing into Saudi Arabia for Vision 2030 projects — managing SASO certification, Jeddah port clearance, and inland delivery to project sites across the Kingdom.
How Plutonia Manages Saudi Arabia Imports
Plutonia handles the China-to-Saudi Arabia import process end to end. We coordinate SABER product registration and per-shipment CoC with SASO-approved testing laboratories in China. For medical products, we advise on SFDA/SALEEM registration timelines and work with local Saudi regulatory consultants. All documentation is prepared to Saudi customs standards, including Embassy attestation where required.