Saudi Arabia Gives Importers More Time: SABER Shipment Certificates Now Valid for 90 Days

Importers bringing products into Saudi Arabia have a little more breathing room. On 15 September 2026, the Saudi Standards, Metrology and Quality Organization (SASO) announced that Shipment Certificates issued through the SABER platform will now stay valid for 90 days instead of 60.

It sounds like a small tweak, but anyone who has watched a certificate expire while a container sits at port knows it isn't.

What exactly changed?

A Shipment Certificate (SC) is issued per consignment on SABER and is one of the documents customs needs before goods are released. Until now, importers had 60 days to use it. SASO has added another 30 days, which gives more room for shipping delays, port congestion and paperwork back-and-forth without having to reissue the certificate.

The Product Certificate of Conformity (PCoC), the certificate that covers the product itself, is not affected. Only the Shipment Certificate window has been extended.

Does this apply to telecom and wireless products?

SASO's announcement talks about shipment certificates for imported products in general and doesn't single out any category. Since wireless and ICT equipment has been certified through SABER since the revised Technical Regulation for Communications and IT Devices came into force in early 2025, these shipments also need an SC, so we expect them to benefit from the longer validity too.

One thing worth flagging: industry sources still disagree on whether a separate CST approval is needed alongside the SABER certificate for some wireless products. If you are unsure about a specific HS code, check before you ship. It's much cheaper than finding out at the border.

Another deadline to keep in mind

Separately, SASO 3114:2026 is replacing the older CST specification GEN-002 for mobile phones, tablets, mobile routers, customer premises equipment and cellular IoT devices. According to certification bodies following the change, new certificates will need to meet SASO 3114:2026 from 1 November 2026, and certificates issued under GEN-002 will be cancelled by 31 March 2027 at the latest. If your product falls into one of these categories, now is a good time to plan retesting.

What should importers do?

• Plan logistics around the new 90-day window, but still get a Shipment Certificate for every consignment before clearance.
• Check whether your products fall under the SASO 3114:2026 transition, and budget time for new test reports.
• Confirm the certification route for wireless products by HS code, especially where CST requirements may still apply.

Need help with SABER registration or CST requirements? Our team handles Saudi Arabia type approval and certification from start to finish.

Sources: SASO announcement (Arabic), UL wireless regulatory update, TÜV Rheinland on SASO 3114:2026.