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Auto Spare Parts Certification Saudi Arabia: SASO & SABER Guide 2026

27 Sep 2026 Articles

Auto Spare Parts Certification Saudi Arabia: SASO & SABER Guide 2026

Saudi Arabia is an important market for automotive spare parts, with manufacturers and exporters worldwide—including suppliers in China—serving the Kingdom’s passenger, commercial and other vehicle sectors.

If you are planning to import auto spare parts from China to Saudi Arabia, determining the applicable Saudi regulatory requirements should be one of your first steps.

New vehicle spare parts falling within the scope of the SASO Technical Regulation for Auto Spare Parts must meet the applicable technical and conformity assessment requirements before being placed on the Saudi market. The regulation applies to the new spare parts specified within its scope and annexes, whether manufactured locally or imported. SASO

For commercial products, the SABER platform facilitates product registration, conformity-certificate registration and shipment-certificate issuance as applicable.

What Is the SASO Technical Regulation for Auto Spare Parts?

The SASO Technical Regulation for Auto Spare Parts establishes requirements for vehicle spare parts falling within its defined scope.

According to SASO, the regulation is intended to establish essential requirements and conformity assessment procedures that help protect the environment and consumer health and safety while facilitating market-surveillance activities. SASO

Suppliers must ensure that applicable spare parts meet the relevant Saudi/Gulf standards specified by the regulation. Where applicable Saudi or Gulf standards are unavailable, the regulation provides for conformity to relevant international, regional, country-of-origin or spare-part-manufacturer standards, subject to the requirements stated in the regulation.

Which Auto Spare Parts Are Covered?

The regulation applies to new vehicle spare parts specified in its scope and annexes. The applicable requirements therefore need to be determined according to the actual product and its classification rather than assuming that every automotive component follows the same certification route.

The regulation and its referenced standards address automotive spare-part requirements including categories such as replacement brake linings and other vehicle components identified in the regulation’s annexes.

Importantly, the regulation expressly excludes:

  1. Tires
  2. Automotive batteries
  3. Safety barriers

These products are subject to separate technical regulations.

Before starting certification, the product’s HS code, description and intended use should therefore be reviewed to identify the correct technical regulation and conformity route.

Why Is Auto Spare Parts Certification Important?

Compliance demonstrates that regulated products satisfy the applicable Saudi technical requirements before entering or being placed on the Saudi market.

Proper conformity assessment can help importers and manufacturers:

  1. Meet applicable Saudi regulatory requirements
  2. Prepare the required technical documentation
  3. Reduce avoidable certification and customs delays
  4. Demonstrate product conformity
  5. Support efficient access to the Saudi market

The SABER platform is integrated with Fasah to facilitate electronic verification of conformity documentation during customs procedures.

Product Certificate of Conformity and Shipment Certificate

For regulated commercial products, the conformity route may involve a Product Certificate of Conformity (PCoC) registered through SABER.

SASO states that the Product Conformity Certificate registration service requires product registration, model numbers and a technical file according to the applicable technical regulation and product type. The applicant selects a conformity assessment body accepted by SASO, which examines the application before the certificate is registered.

For imported commercial shipments, SABER also provides the Shipment Certificate service. SASO lists product registration and a registered Product Conformity Certificate or self-declaration, as applicable, among the requirements for commercial products.

SABER Certification Process for Auto Spare Parts

The exact route depends on the product classification and applicable regulation. For a regulated commercial product requiring third-party conformity assessment, the process generally involves:

1. Identify the product and applicable regulation
Confirm the product description, HS code and applicable Saudi technical requirements.

2. Register the product in SABER
Enter the required product and model information.

3. Prepare the technical file
Compile the documentation and evidence required by the applicable technical regulation.

4. Apply for Product Conformity Certification
Select an SASO-accepted Conformity Assessment Body through SABER for assessment of the application.

5. Complete conformity assessment
The technical documentation and applicable conformity evidence are reviewed.

6. Register the Product Conformity Certificate
Following successful assessment, the conformity certificate is registered through SABER.

7. Obtain the Shipment Certificate
For imported commercial products, the importer submits the shipment information through SABER and completes the applicable shipment-certificate process.

Documents Required for Auto Spare Parts Certification

The exact documentation depends on the product and applicable conformity route. SASO’s Product Conformity Certificate registration service specifically identifies product registration, model numbers and a technical file prepared according to the relevant technical regulation and product type.

Depending on the product, the technical file may include supporting information such as:

  1. Product specifications and datasheets
  2. Model and part-number information
  3. Product photographs
  4. Test reports and conformity evidence, where applicable
  5. Manufacturer details
  6. Product marking and labelling information
  7. Applicable quality-management documentation
  8. Other documents required by the relevant technical regulation or conformity assessment procedure

Complete and accurate documentation can help avoid unnecessary back-and-forth during conformity assessment.

Important Requirements for Manufacturers and Suppliers

The Auto Spare Parts Technical Regulation contains requirements beyond simply obtaining a certificate.

For example, SASO states that the manufacturer must have an effective quality-management system; the regulation identifies certification to the relevant automotive quality-management standard, or equivalent, as a means of satisfying that requirement.

The regulation also places restrictions on importing used, refurbished or expired spare parts, with specified exceptions and conditions for certain major parts.

This makes early product classification and technical review particularly important before shipment.

Importing Auto Spare Parts from China to Saudi Arabia

Chinese manufacturers and Saudi importers should confirm the Saudi compliance route before goods are shipped.

A practical pre-shipment review should establish:

Product → HS Code → Applicable Technical Regulation → Applicable Standard → Conformity Route → Required Documentation → SABER Certification → Shipment Certificate

This reduces the risk of discovering missing compliance evidence only after the shipment is already in transit.

How Watheeq Can Support You

Watheeq supports manufacturers, exporters and importers with conformity assessment and certification activities for products entering the Saudi market.

For auto spare parts, support may include:

  1. Identification of applicable technical requirements
  2. Technical-document review
  3. Review of conformity evidence
  4. Conformity assessment within the applicable authorized scope
  5. Product certification support through SABER
  6. Shipment-certification support
  7. Guidance throughout the conformity assessment process

For manufacturers in China and importers in Saudi Arabia, early coordination can make the certification process more organized and help reduce avoidable delays.

Key Takeaways

The most important points are:

  1. The SASO Technical Regulation applies to the new auto spare parts falling within its defined scope.
  2. Tires, automotive batteries and safety barriers are covered by other technical regulations.
  3. The correct compliance route should be determined using the specific product, classification and applicable regulation.
  4. SABER facilitates product registration, conformity-certificate registration and shipment certification.
  5. Product Conformity Certificate applications requiring third-party assessment are reviewed by an SASO-accepted Conformity Assessment Body selected through SABER.
  6. Preparing the technical file before shipment can help make the process more efficient.

Conclusion

Importing auto spare parts from China to Saudi Arabia requires more than arranging logistics. Products within the scope of Saudi technical regulations must satisfy the applicable conformity requirements before entering the market.
By identifying the applicable regulation early, preparing the technical documentation and completing the required SABER conformity procedures, manufacturers and importers can reduce avoidable delays and approach the Saudi market with greater confidence.

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