If you're new to importing goods into Saudi Arabia then chances are you've already heard the word Saber floating around somewhere Maybe from a shipping agent a customs guy or someone in your supply chain But what exactly is this Saber thing and why’s everyone talking about it

Well to keep it simple Saber is an online platform set up by the Saudi Standards Metrology and Quality Organization to control how products get approved and certified before they’re sold or shipped in Saudi Arabia

Sounds like a lot right Don’t worry It’s not rocket science We’ll break it all down step by step in this guide and walk you through everything a beginner needs to know to get started with the Saber system and get things moving smooth and easy

What Is Saber System And Why Was It Created

Let’s not make it complicated Saber was built to keep unsafe fake or non compliant products out of the Saudi market Before Saber things were manual and slow and a lot of products slipped through that didn’t meet the proper rules

So Saber came along as a digital tool to help both local businesses and importers make sure their products meet Saudi standards and can be cleared by customs without any headaches

Now every product whether it’s from inside Saudi Arabia or coming from another country needs to go through the Saber system

How Does Saber Work

Saber is pretty much an online gatekeeper You don’t need to install any software or use complex tools You just need an internet connection and a working login

Here’s how it usually goes

1 You open a Saber account
2 You register your products
3 You get a product certificate which proves your item meets standards
4 If importing you get a shipment certificate for every shipment
5 You present these at customs when your goods arrive

Simple steps but each one has its own details we’ll go through next

Step One Create a Saber Account

First things first you gotta create your account on the Saber platform

Head over to the official Saber site choose whether you’re a local business or an importer then fill in your business info

Once your account’s set up you can log in and start the product process from inside your dashboard

Keep in mind only registered businesses in Saudi Arabia can create a Saber account If you’re an international supplier or factory you’ll have to work with your Saudi buyer or an approved local agent

Step Two Saber Registration of Your Products

Now comes one of the most important steps and this is where our first anchor text comes in

If you want to sell or bring your products into Saudi Arabia you’ll need to go through saber registration

This means listing your product in the Saber system and getting it matched with the right technical regulation or safety rule

Let’s say you’re importing electronics or toys There are certain rules and standards those products have to meet to make sure they’re safe to use If your product doesn’t match those rules you won’t be able to get it certified

You’ll need to submit product info images model numbers HS code etc After this the system will let you know if your product needs certification or not

Step Three Get a Product Certificate

Once your product is listed the next step is to apply for a product certificate There are two types

1 Type Approval CoC for regulated products
2 Self Declaration CoC for non regulated products

For regulated products you’ll have to work with a conformity assessment body also called CAB They’ll check the documents test reports and other stuff to make sure your product meets Saudi requirements

For non regulated items you can simply upload the needed documents and declare they meet safety guidelines yourself

Once approved the product certificate gets issued and added to your Saber dashboard

Step Four Get a Shipment Certificate For Every Order

Every time you import or sell a batch of products you’ll need a shipment certificate too This one’s linked with the product certificate but made fresh each time a shipment leaves for Saudi

You just log in again choose the certified product enter invoice details and apply for the shipment certificate

Once approved you can print it and give it to your customs broker for clearing the shipment when it lands

Understanding Regulated vs Non Regulated Products

Some folks get confused here so let’s clear this up

• Regulated Products These are the ones that need official testing and approval They go through a conformity assessment body Examples include electronics cosmetics toys and some building materials

• Non Regulated Products These don’t need outside testing but still need to be declared as safe You’ll still list them in Saber just don’t need a CAB to approve them

Saber will tell you which type your product falls under once you start registration

What Is a Conformity Assessment Body CAB

A CAB is a fancy name for a company that’s approved by the Saudi authorities to check and test your products before they hit the market

When you’re dealing with regulated items the CAB checks your documents your lab reports and sometimes even pulls product samples to test them They’re the ones who issue the product certificate

You can find a list of approved CABs right inside the Saber platform

Common Mistakes People Make With Saber

Even though Saber’s designed to make things easier a lot of beginners still trip up Here’s what you should avoid

1 Choosing the wrong HS code
2 Uploading blurry or incorrect documents
3 Not matching your product with the correct technical regulation
4 Skipping the shipment certificate
5 Letting your product certificate expire without renewing it

Just take your time read carefully and maybe ask a Saber expert if you feel lost

Using Saber Certification Platform Without Stress

Here’s where our second anchor text fits in neatly

The saber certification platform can look a bit overwhelming when you first log in but once you understand the steps it starts to feel more like a routine

The trick is staying organized Know which products you need to register what documents are required and how often you need to update certificates

Try to keep a record of all uploads and invoices so if anything gets flagged you can sort it fast

If you deal with a lot of products you can also work with a Saber consultant or certification agent to handle everything while you focus on your business

How Long Does It Take To Get Certified

Timelines vary depending on your product and how complete your documents are

• For non regulated items you might get approved in a day or two

• For regulated products with proper documents it could take a week or more

• If testing is needed or something’s missing the process will take longer

Best advice Keep everything ready and check your messages in Saber often so you don’t miss an update

What Happens If You Skip Saber

Short answer Trouble

If your products don’t have proper Saber certificates they’ll get stuck at customs or worse sent back

Customs officers now rely on Saber to clear shipments So if your product’s not in the system you’ll end up with delays fines or loss of goods

Don’t take that chance It’s not worth it

How Much Does Saber Cost

Costs can vary based on

• Number of products

• Whether they’re regulated or not

• Which CAB you use

• How often you import

You’ll pay a small fee per product registration and another for each shipment certificate Some CABs also charge separately for testing or document review

Most businesses see it as a small cost for smooth customs clearance and peace of mind

Final Thoughts

Using the Saber system might seem tricky at first especially if it’s your first time dealing with product compliance and imports in Saudi Arabia

But once you learn the flow and understand the steps it becomes part of your regular routine It helps you get your goods in the country without delay and keeps your business on the right side of the law

Just follow each step carefully don’t rush and double check everything before you hit submit

If you're someone who’s planning to import or sell goods in Saudi take Saber seriously It’s more than a formality It’s how business gets done over there