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Importing Leather Products to Saudi Arabia: Your Guide to SABER Certification & SASO Compliance

24 Nov 2025 Articles

Importing Leather Products to Saudi Arabia: Your Guide to SABER Certification & SASO Compliance

Importing Leather Products to Saudi Arabia requires full compliance with the SASO Technical Regulation for Leather Products and obtaining SABER certification before shipment. The demand for leather goods in the Kingdom continues to rise, with ongoing imports of bags, wallets, belts, shoes, and accessories from China, Turkey, India, Italy, and other major exporting countries.

However, no leather product can enter the Saudi market unless it meets SASO safety, labeling, and quality requirements and is successfully certified through the SABER system. This guide explains the essential compliance rules and how Watheeq Company ensures fast and smooth SABER certification.

What Is the SASO Technical Regulation for Importing Leather Products to Saudi Arabia?

This regulation sets the mandatory safety, quality, and labeling requirements for:

  1. Natural leather products
  2. Synthetic and artificial leather
  3. Leather footwear
  4. Leather fashion accessories
  5. Leather clothing
  6. Leather industrial materials

The goal of the regulation is to ensure that Importing Leather Products to Saudi Arabia are:

  1. Safe for consumers
  2. Free from harmful chemicals
  3. Manufactured according to approved standards
  4. Properly labeled and traceable

To verify compliance, SASO requires that all leather products be certified through SABER.

SABER Certification Requirements for Leather Products

Under the SASO Technical Regulation for Importing Leather Products to Saudi Arabia, each imported leather item must be evaluated based on its product category:

➤ Type 1a Certification

To obtain the Product Certificate of Conformity (PCoC), the importer must provide:

  1. Supplier Declaration of Conformity
  2. Risk Assessment Document
  3. Product Photos and labels
  4. Test Report from an ISO/IEC 17025 Accredited Laboratory

Once these documents are approved, the PCoC is issued, followed by the Shipment Certificate of Conformity (SCoC).

 

➤ Type 3 Certification

Some leather product (e.g., leather products and their articles for children under three years) fall under Type 3, which requires:

  1. All Type 1a documents
  2. A Factory Audit conducted by the SASO-approved CAB

This ensures that the manufacturing process complies with SASO quality standards.

Why Shipments Without SABER Are Stopped at Saudi Customs

Leather products arriving in Saudi Arabia without SABER certificates will face:

  1. Customs hold
  2. Clearance delays
  3. Extra storage or demurrage fees
  4. Possible rejection of the shipment

To avoid complications, SABER certification must be completed before shipping.

How Watheeq Company Helps You Achieve SASO Compliance Easily

Watheeq Company provides complete support for leather product certification.

Our services include:

  1. Determining the correct certificate type (Type 1a or Type 3)
  2. Reviewing all documents for SASO compliance
  3. Managing SABER registration from start to finish
  4. Full verification of ISO 17025 test reports
  5. Conducting factory audits for Type 3 products
  6. Issuing PCoC and SCoC

With Watheeq, the SABER process is fast, easy, and complication-free.

Key Takeaways

  1. Leather products must comply with the SASO Technical Regulation for Leather Products.
  2. SABER certification is mandatory for customs clearance.
  3. Missing SABER certificates will stop your shipment at Saudi customs.
  4. Watheeq Company ensures smooth, fast, and compliant certification.

Conclusion

Importing leather products to Saudi Arabia is only successful when full SASO compliance and SABER certification are completed in advance. Whether your products fall under Type 1a or Type 3, Watheeq ensures that all technical, documentary, and quality requirements are fully met. With our expert support, importers can avoid customs delays, prevent rejections, and secure fast, compliant entry into the Saudi market.

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