For tiles going to Saudi Arabia, a SASO quality mark certificate comes first, and the product and shipment certificates are then raised on the SABER platform. A shipment without a valid shipment certificate can be refused entry by Saudi customs, so the process must be finished before the goods sail.
Rules change, so use this as a map and check the current technical regulation and SABER guidance at saber.sa before you apply.
What is SABER?
SABER is the Saudi online platform for conformity certificates, run for the Saudi Standards, Metrology and Quality Organization (SASO). It replaced paper certificates. Saudi customs accept certificates issued through SABER, and the platform is linked with the customs clearance system.
The importer in Saudi Arabia normally holds the SABER account and applies for the certificates. The exporter and factory supply the documents.
What are the steps for tiles?
Intertek's guidance records that the SASO Quality Mark became mandatory for ceramic and porcelain tiles from 13 September 2019, under a technical regulation for ceramic tiles. The steps then run in this order:
- The factory obtains the SASO quality mark certificate for the tile product, based on testing and a factory assessment.
- The importer registers on SABER and lists the product.
- The importer applies for a Product Certificate of Conformity, using the quality mark certificate and test reports.
- For each shipment, a Shipment Certificate of Conformity is issued online, valid for that shipment only.
Sources for this flow are the Intertek tile quality mark guide and the Intertek SABER overview. Those pages date from the introduction of the rule, so confirm any change with SASO.
Which documents are needed?
Expect to supply the following, and make sure names and addresses match across all of them:
- The commercial invoice, packing list and bill of lading for the shipment.
- Test reports for the tile properties the regulation covers, from a laboratory the scheme accepts.
- The factory's quality certificates, such as ISO 9001, and its product description.
- Product details that match the tariff code, size, body type and water absorption.
The wider export paperwork is described in documents needed for tile exports from India.
What goes wrong most often?
Most delays come from mismatches. A shipment certificate that describes a different size from the packing list, a factory name that differs from the quality mark holder, or a certificate raised after the goods have sailed can all hold up clearance.
Check the factory already holds a valid quality mark for the product you want before you order. Our guides on SASO and G-Mark for tiles and country-specific tile certifications give more background, and importing Indian tiles into Saudi Arabia covers the full route.
Who pays and who applies?
The importer normally holds the SABER account, while the factory holds the quality mark certificate. Costs and who bears them should be agreed in the purchase contract, not discovered later. Ask the factory how long its certificate is valid and when it renews, because an expired certificate can stop a shipment even when the tiles themselves are fine.
Next step
We check certificates, test reports and shipping documents against the plant before the container is loaded. For a Saudi order, book a free sourcing review.