Ensure Regulatory Success in the Saudi Market with SABER, CST, and SASO Certifications
As Saudi Arabia accelerates economic diversification through Vision 2030, the government has significantly tightened regulatory controls to ensure product quality, safety, and technical compatibility. Whether you’re a global manufacturer, importer, or distributor, compliance with Saudi Arabia’s certification requirements is now more crucial than ever.
Two primary regulatory frameworks dominate the product compliance landscape:
- SASO (Saudi Standards, Metrology and Quality Organization): The main authority for standardization, conformity assessment, and consumer protection.
- CST (Communications, Space and Technology Commission): The regulator responsible for technical device registration and type approvals in the communication, wireless, and radio-frequency sectors.
These certifications are managed and verified through platforms such as SABER and JEEM, with multiple layers of documentation and procedures. Delays, rejections, and non-compliance can result in customs holds, penalties, and restricted access to the Kingdom’s growing consumer and industrial markets.
At The Saudi Gate, we specialize in helping companies obtain CST product approval, SASO conformity certification, and all associated SABER platform registrations. Whether you’re dealing with smart devices, electrical equipment, consumer products, or industrial machinery, our team ensures smooth certification, customs clearance, and entry into the Saudi market.
The Role of SASO in Saudi Arabia’s Product Certification Ecosystem
The Saudi Standards, Metrology and Quality Organization (SASO) oversees the technical regulation and standardization of products entering the Saudi market. It ensures that goods comply with national safety, health, and environmental standards, aligned with international best practices.
SASO enforces:
- Product-specific Technical Regulations
- Conformity assessment schemes (including Type 1a and Type 3 schemes)
- Market surveillance and customs clearance validations
For imported products, SASO certifications are issued and verified through the SABER platform, the Kingdom’s online portal for managing product compliance digitally.
What Is SABER and Why It Matters
SABER is an online platform launched by SASO that connects product owners, authorized representatives, and certification bodies to ensure the right approvals are in place before a product enters the Saudi market.
The platform is used to:
- Register products and their technical specifications
- Identify applicable Technical Regulations
- Apply for the Product Certificate of Conformity (PCoC)
- Obtain the Shipment Certificate of Conformity (SCoC)
- Coordinate with certification bodies for lab tests and document review
- Issue product barcodes for customs inspection and clearance
Key Certifications in SABER
- Product Certificate of Conformity (PCoC):
- Required for every regulated product.
- Valid for one year.
- Tied to the HS Code, product model, and brand.
- Shipment Certificate of Conformity (SCoC):
- Required for every shipment of a product.
- Links the PCoC with customs documentation.
- Ensures that only registered products enter the Kingdom.
- Voluntary Product Certifications (for non-regulated goods):
- Even if your product is not on SASO’s regulated list, registering it with voluntary certificates helps in customs clearance, reduces inspection delays, and shows commitment to compliance.
SASO Regulated Product Categories in SABER
Saudi Arabia has regulated numerous product sectors under SASO. Some prominent ones include:
- Electrical appliances and electronics (e.g., TVs, kettles, hair dryers)
- Low-voltage equipment
- Lighting products
- Automotive spare parts
- Children’s toys
- Personal protective equipment (PPE)
- Construction materials (e.g., cables, steel, cement)
- Cosmetics and personal care
- Batteries and solar panels
The Saudi Gate helps identify whether your product is regulated, and if so, which technical regulation applies and what certification body is best suited.
CST Certification for ICT, Wireless, and Radio Devices
In addition to SASO, many products that operate over wireless frequencies, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, RF, or cellular networks require approval from the Communications, Space and Technology Commission (CST).
Formerly known as CITC, CST enforces the Type Approval and Equipment Certification Scheme for all:
- Wireless routers and access points
- GPS and GNSS devices
- Smartphones, tablets, and wearables
- RFID and NFC systems
- Telecommunication infrastructure
- IoT and smart metering devices
Without CST Type Approval, your product will not be allowed into the Saudi market, even if it already has SABER approval.
What CST Certification Includes
The CST Type Approval process includes:
- Registration on the CST portal
- Submission of product datasheets and test reports
- CE/FCC compliance documentation
- Declaration of Conformity
- RF exposure and SAR testing (where applicable)
- Country of origin certificates
Once approved, you receive a Type Approval Certificate and a CST barcode—both mandatory for customs clearance.
The Saudi Gate handles CST registration from end to end, ensuring your product’s technical specs align with Kingdom-approved frequency bands and emissions limits.
SABER and CST: Complementary but Independent Systems
It’s important to understand that CST and SASO operate in parallel, not jointly.
- A device like a smart thermostat may require SASO PCoC/SCoC for electrical safety and CST Type Approval for RF compatibility.
- Smart home devices, IoT modules, or 4G/5G communication tools require both certifications to enter Saudi Arabia.
The Saudi Gate ensures that your product receives complete approval from both SASO (via SABER) and CST, minimizing the risk of clearance rejection.
Authorized Representative Services in Saudi Arabia
Foreign companies without a Saudi commercial license (CR) cannot register on SABER or CST directly. Instead, they must appoint a local Authorized Representative or Importer of Record (IOR) to act on their behalf.
The Saudi Gate offers full Authorized Representative services, including:
- Registration of your product under our license
- Document submission and regulatory handling
- Coordination with SASO-accredited conformity bodies
- Customs coordination and product labeling
With our support, foreign manufacturers can certify and clear their products into Saudi Arabia without setting up a local entity—ideal for testing the market or handling B2B/B2G projects.
What Makes The Saudi Gate Your Ideal Partner?
✅ Deep Expertise in SABER, CST, and JEEM
Our consultants are experts in the full suite of Saudi certification systems, including SABER, CST, and JEEM for energy efficiency and water labeling.
✅ One-Stop Certification Management
We handle everything from technical regulation identification to test reports, platform registration, product barcode issuance, and post-clearance compliance.
✅ Fast-Track Approval Pathways
We work with multiple SASO-accredited certification bodies and testing labs to get your PCoCs and CST approvals issued as quickly as possible.
✅ Customs Clearance Integration
Our certification services are bundled with customs coordination—ensuring your shipment gets released without delay.
✅ Support for Regulated and Voluntary Products
Even if your product isn’t officially regulated yet, our team can guide you through voluntary certification to smooth future imports.
✅ Multilingual Technical Teams
We support Arabic and English technical documentation and can help bridge any compliance gaps in translation or terminology.
Our End-to-End Service Workflow
- Product Assessment
- We review your product category, technical specs, and HS codes.
- Regulation Mapping
- We identify applicable SASO technical regulations and CST standards.
- Document Preparation
- We compile lab reports, DoCs, test certificates, and supporting documents.
- Platform Registration
- We create and manage your SABER and CST accounts (or do so under our license if needed).
- Certification Issuance
- We liaise with conformity bodies and authorities to secure approval.
- Customs Support
- We ensure the barcode, PCoC, SCoC, and CST codes are linked to your shipment for release.
Common Challenges We Help You Avoid
- SABER PCoC rejection due to incorrect HS Code
- Product delay at customs due to missing CST Type Approval
- Misidentification of applicable technical regulations
- Lack of valid test reports accepted by Saudi authorities
- Errors in Arabic labels and declarations of conformity
- Platform navigation delays due to language and document formatting
With The Saudi Gate, you never face these issues alone.
Industries We Serve
- Consumer Electronics
- Telecommunications & IoT
- Smart Home and Automation
- Industrial Equipment
- Health Devices and Wearables
- Construction and Building Materials
- Lighting and Electrical Appliances
- Children’s Toys and Safety Products
- Personal Care and Cosmetics
Position Your Products for Saudi Market Success
Saudi Arabia is not just a growing market—it is redefining standards. As Vision 2030 transforms the regulatory landscape, product compliance is not a barrier but a gateway to trust, scale, and competitiveness.
Whether you are a seasoned exporter or entering the Saudi market for the first time, certification is your first step. And The Saudi Gate is your local compliance partner—on the ground, in tune with every regulation, and committed to helping you succeed.
Contact The Saudi Gate Today and Certify Your Products for Saudi Arabia
Don’t let complex platforms or shifting regulations stop you from growing in the Middle East’s most dynamic market.
Contact us today and let us help you get your CST Type Approval, SABER certification, and SASO product registrations—faster, simpler, and fully compliant.