SASO/SABER fees for car imports: what you pay and why it's mandatory

The SABER certificate of conformity is required before Saudi customs will release any vehicle — the fee and how it's issued.

SABER is the electronic platform launched by the Saudi Standards, Metrology and Quality Organization (SASO) to issue conformity certificates for imported goods, including vehicles. Without a certificate issued through SABER, your car will not clear Saudi customs no matter how complete your other paperwork is.

Steps to get the certificate

Register and log in at saber.sa
Apply for a Shipment Certificate of Conformity, preceded by a Product Certificate of Conformity
Choose an approved inspection body and pay the fee
SASO introduced a new method for verifying used-vehicle conformity in the shipping country starting June 30, 2024, to ease individual imports

The fees

The SABER certificate fee itself is roughly SAR 402.50 (about USD 108) including VAT, paid on the platform when you submit the request. On top of that comes the chosen inspection body's own charge, which varies by provider.

Vehicles that fail SASO's fuel-economy rating face an additional penalty of 20% to 50% of the vehicle's value, with a floor of SAR 20,000. It's best to check a model's rating before you buy, not after.

This information is based on officially published SASO and SABER regulations and may be updated — check the SABER platform or your customs broker to confirm the latest fees before shipping. We help coordinate this step as part of our import service.