January 30, 2021

What is the SABER System?

SABER is a mandatory requirement for companies registered in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) who will import products for trade or use. The SABER portal system is a new mandatory importer-based computer system facilitating online certification of imports into Saudi Arabia. The long-term plan is for SABER to become the only system for clearing goods through Saudi Arabian customs and replace the SASO COC. All shipments arriving into the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia will require a Product COC and a Shipment COC to be issued through SABER.

How will the Saber System changes affect my clients?

Implementing the SABER system regulations will create a shift in who is responsible for arranging the customs clearance of the goods. It is now the importing company's responsibility based in Saudi Arabia (KSA) to register their company, products, and shipments on the SABER portal.

Is the SABER portal simple to use?

Users of the SABER system are experiencing rejected files. Although the system may appear simple to use, the enforced technical regulations are more difficult to comply with than the SASO COC. Many have found that payments are non-refundable when a file is rejected. Crane Worldwide Logistics in Saudi Arabia can support you and will pre-assess all files before any payments have been made, meaning you can be 100% sure of compliance before taking the risk of losing money. 

Do international HS Codes work on the SABER system?

Saudi Arabia works off its own 12-digit HS codes. The Saudi HS code of the product dictates what technical regulations need to be complied with and whether SASO or SABER is required. Many 6 to 8 digit international HS codes do not always match the SA 2 digit HS Code. Nine out of ten times, HS codes need to be closely reassessed to identify your products' right code. This can become very complicated. XDS is on hand to support you in determining the correct HS code. 

SABER portal categories:

The SABER system has two categories that every product will be categorized upon, which are regulated and non-regulated. Previously, only regulated cargo had to be registered on SABER. Effective 1st January 2021, SABER has made it mandatory to have non-regulated products also registered, so now all imported cargo should be registered.  

1. Regulated Products (High/Medium Risk Products) There are two categories of these products: Medium & High-Risk Products are also included in the GCC Standardization Organization (GSO) Regulated Products. Under this program, SASO will be issuing Technical Regulations similar in concept to EU Regulations – suited to the Saudi Market – with a mandatory involvement of R-CABs. In case the products are in scope, the applicable Conformity assessment procedures will be defined in the Technical Regulations. 
2. Non- Regulated Products (Low Risk Products) These Regulated Products must obtain the Certificate of Conformity for the product and shipments from SABER portal through mandatory involvement of the R-CABs. High-risk products must obtain the SASO Quality Mark Authorization and are subject to conformity assessment procedures.

Certification of Conformity

1. Product (registration) Certificate: The first step in the SABER platform is to register the products based on classification, whether it is regulated or non-regulated. This registration will be valid for one year and will be issued a product (registration) certificate. 
2. Shipment Certificate: Once the product is registered, importers will have to issue a shipment certificate each time the product is imported into the kingdom. The shipment certificate will be valid for only one time for the import it is issued on. 

Required documents for a shipment certificate on SABER portal:

• Commercial invoice (Commercial invoice number and invoice value will be mentioned on the shipment certificate)
• Packing list (product details like quantity and gross weight will be mentioned on the shipment certificate).

How do you get a Saber certificate? Crane Worldwide Logistics in Saudi Arabia has a dedicated SABER system desk to support your incoming shipments into the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to help with SABER registration. If you are exporting to Saudi Arabia, please don't hesitate to reach out to the Crane Worldwide team in Saudi Arabia for further information about the SABER system and how we can help.

Contact us

Learn more abour SABER Saudi Arabia, for further detail you can also contact our Saudi Arabia location here