Licence, customs, conformity
Import / Export Business Setup in Saudi Arabia
Saudi goods trade turns on product conformity as much as on the licence. Non-conforming goods do not clear, however good the paperwork.
GCC business setup specialists
Conformity is the gate
Saudi Arabia operates product conformity and certification requirements for a wide range of imported goods. Traders who plan only for the licence and the customs code discover at the port that the goods themselves needed certifying before shipment.
- Conformity requirements identified before you ship
- Customs registration set up with the licence
- Documentation checked for consistency
20+
Mainland, free zone and offshore jurisdictions we file in — so the recommendation is based on your activity, not on which authority we happen to be registered with.
7,000+
Companies successfully established.
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What trading needs
Beyond the trading licence
Which apply depends on your goods and how they move.
| Requirement | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Trading activity | The registration must cover the goods you actually trade. |
| Customs registration | Needed to clear goods in the company’s own name. |
| Product conformity | Many categories require certification before shipment, not on arrival. |
| Regulated categories | Food, cosmetics, medical and similar goods need the relevant authority’s clearance. |
| Documentation | Invoice, packing list, certificate of origin and transport documents, consistent with each other. |
| Storage and distribution | Where goods sit, and whether the premises suit the category. |
Customs procedures, conformity schemes and product requirements are set by the Saudi authorities and change. Yours are confirmed before the first shipment.
How it works
Getting trade-ready
The aim is a routine first shipment rather than an educational one.
01
Goods and route
What you move, from where, to whom, and whether for local sale or re-export. That flags the conformity and clearance requirements for your categories.
02
Licence and customs code
Registration with the right trading activities, then customs registration so you clear in your own name.
03
Conformity and first shipment
Certification obtained for the categories that need it, documentation set up consistently, and the first shipment supported through clearance.
Before you ship
What trading requires
Inconsistent documents are the most common cause of a held shipment.
- Commercial Registration with trading activities
- Customs registration and code
- Product list with HS classifications
- Conformity certificates for regulated categories
- Certificates of origin
- Commercial invoice and packing list
- Bill of lading or airway bill
- Labelling meeting Saudi requirements
- Arabic labelling where required
- Supplier agreements
- Storage arrangements suited to the goods
- Clearing agent appointed, where used
Scope
What is included, and what is not
Stated plainly, so nothing is added once the engagement starts.
Included in the service fee
- Trading activity and structure recommendation
- Commercial Registration with correct activities
- Customs registration and code
- Identification of conformity requirements
- Co-ordination of certification applications
- Guidance on documentation consistency
- Guidance on labelling requirements
- Corporate bank account introduction
Not included, quoted separately
- Customs duty, port and clearance charges
- Freight, shipping and insurance
- Warehousing and storage
- Product testing and certification fees
- Clearing agent fees
- Labelling and packaging redesign
- Duty classification disputes
- Per-shipment clearance, quoted separately
Verify independently
Official Saudi authorities
We file directly with these bodies on your behalf.
Ministry of Investment (MISA)Ministry of CommerceZakat, Tax and Customs Authority (ZATCA)Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA)Saudi Authority for Intellectual Property (SAIP)Ministry of Municipalities and Housing
Questions
Saudi import and export — FAQs
Do I need a customs code?
To clear goods in your own name, yes. It is tied to your registration and set up alongside it rather than discovered at the port.
What is product conformity?
A requirement that many imported goods are certified as meeting applicable standards, generally before shipment. It is the most common reason first-time traders have goods held.
Does labelling matter?
Yes, and Arabic labelling is frequently required. Relabelling at the port is expensive and slow compared with getting it right at origin.
Which goods need extra clearance?
Food, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, medical devices and several other categories need the relevant authority’s clearance. We check your specific list.
What usually holds a shipment?
Documents that do not match each other, or goods arriving without the certification that should have been obtained before shipment.
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