Vision 2030, NEOM and a run of hyperscale campuses are pulling servers, networking and telecoms hardware into Saudi Arabia at a pace few markets match. Every technology company, reseller and distributor supplying that buildout asks the same question. Can we ship into Saudi Arabia without setting up a Saudi company first? Yes, through an outsourced importer of record.
The catch is that the compliance structure to import IT equipment into Saudi Arabia without a local entity is more layered than most Gulf markets. Two things moved in 2026. SABER’s tariff codes were updated on 1 January, and the USB Type-C charging rules now apply to laptops and the remaining peripheral categories. This guide explains each layer, what changed and how to avoid the usual failure points at Saudi airports and at King Abdulaziz Port in Dammam and Jeddah Islamic Port.
The Four-Layer Saudi Compliance Stack
Saudi import compliance runs through four separate systems, and all four have to line up before a shipment clears. A specialist IOR manages them for the foreign company.
- SABER (SASO). The product conformity platform, which holds the Product Certificate of Conformity (PCoC) and issues the Shipment Certificate of Conformity (SCoC) for each shipment.
- CST type approval. Approval from the Communications, Space and Technology Commission for wireless, RF and telecom equipment.
- FASAH (ZATCA). The customs single window, where each commercial import is declared with the HS code, CIF value, description, origin and certificate references.
- VAT (ZATCA). 15% on CIF value plus customs duty, recoverable by a Saudi VAT-registered importer through its VAT return.
1. SABER, the Product Conformity Platform
SABER is run by SASO, the Saudi Standards, Metrology and Quality Organisation. Regulated products need a valid SABER registration, and the certificates are required for clearance at Saudi ports, airports and borders. SABER works on two certificate levels.
- Product Certificate of Conformity (PCoC). Issued per product model by a SASO-approved conformity assessment body, confirming the product meets the applicable technical regulation. Only importers with a Saudi commercial registration can register on SABER, so the PCoC sits with the Saudi importer, which is why a foreign company needs an IOR. Each PCoC is valid for one year, and ten regulated models need ten PCoCs.
- Shipment Certificate of Conformity (SCoC). Required for each shipment, confirming the goods in that consignment are covered by valid PCoCs. It is requested through SABER and has to be issued before the shipment arrives. Without it, the goods cannot be released.
2. The January 2026 SABER Tariff Code Update
Following a SASO notification of 18 November 2025, Saudi Arabia updated the customs tariff codes used in SABER on 1 January 2026, to align with ZATCA’s current tariff. Several codes were removed and replaced, across categories that include ICT devices and electrical equipment.
Existing PCoCs and SCoCs issued under the old codes stay valid until they expire, and Saudi Customs assigns the new codes at clearance. The risk is in the detail. Where the tariff code, the product data in SABER and the FASAH declaration do not match, clearance can be delayed. Review the codes for every product you ship and update the SABER registration when each PCoC is renewed. Our HS code finder is a quick first check.
3. CST Type Approval for Wireless and Networking Equipment
- What it is. Approval from the Communications, Space and Technology Commission (CST), formerly CITC, for products that use radio spectrum or connect to telecoms networks.
- What IT equipment needs it. Typically access points, routers, Wi-Fi laptops, wireless network cards, modems, IoT devices and anything with Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, NFC or cellular capability. Wired-only equipment should be checked per model.
- A dual requirement. Products needing CST approval often need SABER certification too. Neither substitutes for the other.
- What it takes. Technical specifications, EMC and RF test reports, product photos and labelling. Approval is product specific and has to be revisited when the specification changes.
4. FASAH Customs Declaration and ZATCA Clearance
- What it is. FASAH is ZATCA’s single window. Each commercial import is declared through it by a licensed customs broker.
- What the declaration needs. The current 12-digit Saudi tariff code, an accurate CIF value, a full description, the origin and the SABER and CST certificate references.
- The SABER and FASAH link. A missing SCoC, a code that does not match the product data or a description that differs from the certified product can produce a hold until it is corrected.
- Who files it. A licensed customs broker acting for the Saudi importer.
5. Customs Duty and VAT
- Customs duty. Saudi Arabia applies the GCC common external tariff, set at 5% with exceptions. Many IT products carry a different rate, so confirm the rate per 12-digit code before committing to a landed cost.
- VAT. 15% on CIF value plus duty. On a USD 500,000 shipment at 0% duty, that is USD 75,000 of import VAT before release.
- VAT recovery. Recoverable by the Saudi VAT-registered importer through its VAT return, so the IOR needs an active Saudi VAT registration.
Saudi Arabia IT Hardware Certification Reference Table
| Product category | HS heading | Key certifications |
|---|---|---|
| Servers and rack computers | 8471 | SABER PCoC, SCoC per shipment |
| Laptops and workstations | 8471 | SABER PCoC, SCoC, CST if wireless, USB Type-C for laptops |
| Network switches and routers | 8517 | SABER PCoC, SCoC, CST where applicable |
| Wireless access points | 8517 | SABER PCoC, SCoC, CST |
| Firewalls and security appliances | 8517 or 8543 | SABER PCoC, SCoC, CST where applicable |
| Storage arrays and NAS | 8471 or 8473 | SABER PCoC, SCoC per shipment |
| Power equipment and UPS | 8504 | SABER PCoC, SCoC, SASO energy requirements |
| Semiconductors and components | 8542 | SABER registration where applicable |
VAT is 15% on CIF plus duty for every row. Confirm the duty rate and the certification route for each 12-digit code with a licensed broker before building a landed cost model.
The Six Most Common Failure Points When Importing IT Equipment Into Saudi Arabia
Failure 1: PCoC Issued Under the Wrong Party
- The most common structural error. SABER registration sits with the Saudi importer, so the PCoC has to be under the party that will actually import.
- A certificate under a different party does not support the SCoC for your shipment.
- Prevention. Confirm the IOR is named before the conformity assessment body issues each certificate.
Failure 2: Tariff Code and Product Data Out of Line After January 2026
- Old-code certificates stay valid until expiry, but a code that no longer matches the product data or the declaration can slow clearance.
- Prevention. Check every active PCoC against the current code list and update it at renewal.
Failure 3: CST Approval Missing for Wireless Equipment
- Products with Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, NFC, RF or cellular capability generally need CST approval as well as SABER certification.
- Prevention. Map every product’s wireless capability and confirm CST status before booking.
Failure 4: No SCoC Before Arrival
- The SCoC has to be issued before the shipment arrives. Goods that land without one are held.
- Prevention. Have the IOR confirm the SCoC in SABER before the air waybill or bill of lading is issued.
Failure 5: IOR Has No Saudi VAT Registration
- An importer without Saudi VAT registration pays the 15% at the border with no way to recover it. On a USD 500,000 shipment that is USD 75,000.
- Prevention. Confirm the IOR’s active ZATCA VAT registration before accepting a booking.
Failure 6: Hardware That Fails the USB Type-C Rule
This one fails at the product level, before any paperwork. SASO and CST announced a unified USB Type-C charging port requirement in August 2023, and both phases are now in force.
- Phase 1. Applied from 1 January 2025 to devices such as phones, tablets, cameras, keyboards, mice, portable speakers and wireless routers. For eight categories, including keyboards, mice and wireless routers, SASO extended the grace period to 1 May 2026.
- Phase 2. Laptops, from 1 April 2026.
- Why it matters. Conformity assessment bodies no longer issue certificates for in-scope products that do not meet the standard. No PCoC means no SCoC, and no SCoC means no clearance. No IOR structure can fix a product that does not meet the specification.
- Prevention. Get written confirmation from the manufacturer that each laptop and peripheral model you ship is USB Type-C compliant before you place the order.
Four Steps to Import IT Equipment Into Saudi Arabia Without a Local Entity
- Review your SABER certificates against the 2026 tariff codes. Check every PCoC code against the current list and update at renewal. Our importer of record services in Saudi Arabia include this pre-shipment review.
- Build a product compliance matrix. For each SKU, record whether it needs a PCoC, whether it needs CST approval, whether it meets USB Type-C, who holds the certificate and whether the code is current.
- Confirm the SCoC before the shipment moves. The FASAH declaration references it, and goods arriving without one are held.
- Ship DDP and model the full landed cost first. Saudi VAT on CIF plus duty adds more than the headline duty suggests. A 5% duty on a USD 1,000,000 network deployment is USD 50,000 of duty plus USD 157,500 of VAT. Our Delivered Duty Paid service quotes SABER, CST, FASAH filing, duty, VAT and delivery as one landed cost before you commit, and our landed cost guide shows the method.
How Carra Globe Handles Saudi Imports
We act as importer of record for IT and data centre hardware going into Saudi Arabia, and as exporter of record for kit going back out. For full builds, see our data center solutions and the wider importer of record for the GCC, including the UAE.
Carra Globe works through importer-side registrations and local importing structures appropriate to the goods and destinations it accepts, its own in some markets and established local structures in others. Approvals falling outside the available structure are flagged before a delivery date is agreed. If you are weighing a free zone instead, see Saudi free zone customs rules for tech imports. Reach us at info@carraglobe.com.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a Saudi subsidiary to act as the importer?
No. An IOR with a Saudi commercial registration, SABER access, VAT registration and a licensed broker can import for you and is named on the FASAH declaration.
What is the difference between a PCoC and an SCoC?
A PCoC covers a product model for one year. An SCoC covers one shipment, confirming its goods have valid PCoCs, and must be issued before the shipment arrives.
Why was my server shipment held despite valid PCoCs?
Common causes are a missing SCoC, a certificate under the wrong importer, or a tariff code or description that does not match between SABER and the FASAH declaration.
Does every wireless device need CST approval?
Generally, yes. Products using Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, NFC, RF or cellular need CST type approval in addition to SABER certification. Wired-only equipment should be checked per model.
Do laptops imported into Saudi Arabia need USB Type-C charging?
Yes. Since 1 April 2026, laptops must use USB Type-C charging. Non-compliant models cannot get a conformity certificate, so they cannot clear.
How long does Saudi customs clearance take for IT hardware?
A complete shipment with valid PCoCs, an SCoC, a correct FASAH declaration and any CST approval usually clears quickly. Gaps or mismatches can turn that into a hold of weeks.
Sources and verification
- SABER and SASO. Saudi Standards, Metrology and Quality Organisation.
- SABER tariff code update. SASO notification of 18 November 2025, effective 1 January 2026, as reported by conformity bodies, with existing certificates valid until expiry.
- USB Type-C. Joint SASO and CST announcement of August 2023, and SASO’s notice of 12 March 2026 extending the Phase 1 grace period to 1 May 2026.
- Common external tariff. The GCC common external tariff of 5% with exceptions, in force since 1 January 2003.
Disclaimer. This guide is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal or customs advice. Saudi conformity, telecoms and customs requirements depend on the product, its classification and the parties involved, and can change at short notice. Confirm the current position with SASO, CST, ZATCA or a qualified adviser before shipping.