Three major new regulations for customs clearance in Saudi Arabia in 2026
Saudi Arabia is the largest single market in the Middle East and also has the strictest customs clearance compliance requirements. Starting from the second half of 2026, three new regulations will be implemented simultaneously:
1.New mandatory requirements have been added to the product labels (effective from October 1, 2026)
The Saudi Standards Organization (SASO) requires that for products subject to 10 types of technical regulations, the names and business registration numbers (CR Number) of the Saudi suppliers (importers or local manufacturers) must be indicated on the product itself:
Covered products: Building materials, solar photovoltaic systems, LPG transport tankers, trailers/half-trailers, child restraint systems and baby strollers, building elevators, etc.
Tag language: Arabic, or Arabic + English
Consequence: Non-compliance will affect SABER certification and customs clearance.
2. New standard for ICT equipment: SASO 3114:2026 (Effective from November 1, 2026)
Wi-Fi 7（IEEE 802.11be）
Applicable to mobile phones, tablets, mobile routers, IoT modules, fiber optic terminals, and Wi-Fi devices:
Smartphones must support advanced mobile location (AML) for emergency communication.
Mobile devices must support Community Broadcast Emergency Warning System (CBS)
The Wi-Fi distribution equipment must support Wi-Fi 7 (IEEE 802.11be)
Key points: Starting from November 1, 2026, the SABER system will only accept applications for new standards; All old standard certificates will become invalid by March 31, 2027.
3. New standards for air conditioning energy efficiency (to be enforced by customs as of December 1, 2026)
According to SASO 2663:2025 and SASO 2874:2025, before exporting air conditioning products to Saudi Arabia, they must undergo certification in accordance with the new energy efficiency standards.
How to seize the "window of opportunity" for rapid transportation before and after the implementation of new regulations
Every time a new compliance regulation comes into effect, it leads to two typical scenarios, and air freight is the solution:
Scenario 1: "Compliance rush" before the implementation. Products that have obtained the old standard certification need to clear customs and be warehoused before the expiration date. The 50+ day shipping cycle of sea freight could potentially delay the shipment beyond the implementation date. Switching to air freight within 5-8 days for door-to-door delivery can complete the customs clearance before the certificate expires, avoiding having the entire batch of goods sitting idle. For ICT products with an old standard certificate that expires on March 31, 2027, reverse calculation of production scheduling and headhaul time is necessary. Now, planning should be done accordingly.
Scenario 2: "Compliance gap" after the implementation. During the period when new certification applications are being processed, the shelves cannot remain empty. CHOICE air freight e-commerce dedicated line can quickly transport small quantities of goods in batches before obtaining the compliance documents, maintaining the availability of the channel.
CHOICE advantages in Saudi Arabia's air freight services to Chengdu and Qingdao
The customs clearance team of the Saudi branch directly communicates with the customs. They can promptly grasp the implementation guidelines of the new regulations.
Air freight door-to-door delivery takes 5-8 days. This allows for the maximum time margin for certification and customs clearance.
Pre-review of documents: Before shipment, verify labels, certifications, and declared product names to prevent problems from being discovered after the goods have been delivered.
SABER Certification Process Overview
Product Certificate（PC）
Shipment Certificate（SC）
The importer registers an account on the SABER platform.
The exporter submits product technical documents to apply for a Product Certificate (PC).
Each batch of shipment requests a Shipment Certificate (SC).
For some product categories, a designated agency is required for inspection/testing.
Our reminder: The validity period of the PC certificate is usually one year. It is recommended that long-term customers in the Saudi market plan for annual certification in advance; in conjunction with the replenishment schedule by air freight, align the certification batch with the air freight schedule, and avoid queuing during peak seasons.
Compliance customs clearance - why is a local team necessary?
The customs clearance documents in Saudi Arabia have long links and frequent regulatory updates. Remote freight forwarders often "lose contact after sending the documents". Our approach:
Set up local branches in Saudi Arabia, and the customs clearance team directly communicates with the customs office.
Immediately after the new regulations were released, a list of explanations and response measures was sent to customers.
Provide pre-service support such as certification processing guidelines, label compliance pre-inspection, and document pre-review.
The Chinese, English and Arabic multilingual team has achieved seamless communication with the Saudi customs and the SASO agency.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: Can the product labels be printed on the packaging?
A: No. The new regulation from October 2026 requires the labels to be printed on the product itself (durability labels, nameplates, printed or engraved), and labeling only on the packaging does not meet the requirements.
Q: When will the old standard SABER certificate expire? Can we renew it in time?
A: The old standard certificate for ICT devices expires permanently on March 31, 2027. If the renewal is not timely, you can first plan to complete the customs clearance of the goods in transit before the expiration date by air freight. The specific plan can be calculated by contacting us for the time window.
Q: Will the goods transported to Saudi Arabia also be blocked by the new regulation?
A: Yes. The new regulation has nothing to do with the transportation method. We provide pre-inspection for compliance before shipment to solve the problems before takeoff rather than after landing.
Q: My product is not in the 10-category technical regulations. Do I still need to mark the CR Number?
A: Currently, the mandatory scope is products under the 10-category technical regulations. However, the trend of expansion by SASO is obvious. It is recommended to plan ahead. You can contact us to obtain the compliance assessment for your category.
CHOICE International Freight, focusing on cross-border logistics in Africa & the Middle East. Founded in 1997, with 29 years of logistics experience, it provides one-stop cross-border logistics services such as air transportation, sea transportation, and overseas warehousing.
Tel: 400-613-8844