SABER Certification: Saudi Arabia's Conformity Platform Explained
SABER is Saudi Arabia's online conformity platform: how PCoC and SCoC certificates work, who registers them, and what China factories must supply via...
SABER is Saudi Arabia’s online conformity assessment platform, operated under SASO. It is where a regulated product is registered, where conformity certificates are issued, and how those certificates feed into FASAH — the national customs single-window — so goods can clear at the border. SABER replaced the older paper-based certificate scheme. For a China exporter, SABER is the system the Saudi importer uses; the factory’s role is to supply the test evidence that makes registration possible.
The two certificates SABER issues
SABER works on a two-certificate model, and conflating them is the most common beginner mistake:
| Certificate | Scope | Validity | Speed |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCoC (Product Certificate of Conformity) | One per product model | One year | 1–3 weeks (with valid reports) |
| SCoC (Shipment Certificate of Conformity) | One per consignment | Per shipment | 1–2 days |
The first shipment of a new model carries the time and cost of the PCoC. Every shipment thereafter only needs a fresh SCoC drawn against the valid PCoC — fast and cheap.
How the workflow runs
- The Saudi importer of record creates the product registration on SABER.
- A SASO-approved Conformity Assessment Body (CAB) reviews the technical file and accredited IEC test reports.
- The CAB issues the PCoC once the product meets the applicable SASO regulation.
- For each shipment, the importer requests an SCoC, which is verified through FASAH at customs clearance.
What the China factory must supply
The factory does not log into SABER, but registration stalls without its inputs:
- Accredited IEC 60335 / 62368 test reports (from an ILAC-accredited lab)
- The product technical file and bill of materials
- Rating-label photos showing 220V/60Hz and rated power
- For wireless products, the CST radio type-approval reference (a parallel track, not part of SABER)
The failure mode we see most often: the factory provides a non-accredited or internal lab report, the CAB rejects it, and the importer is blocked. Verify the report is ILAC-accredited and matches the production model number before paying the balance.
SABER vs SASO — the distinction
SASO is the standards authority and the source of the technical regulations. SABER is the platform that enforces them through certificates. You register on SABER against a SASO regulation. For the full registration mechanics, costs, and timeline, see the SASO and SABER certification guide.