- Saudi Arabia uses SABER, the UAE uses ECAS, and toys and low-voltage electricals may also need the GCC G-Mark. One good set of test reports can usually feed all three.
- Government fees are fixed: SAR 500 per SABER product certificate and SAR 350 per shipment certificate, plus VAT. The certification body's fee is what you negotiate.
- Check that a body is approved for your exact regulation on the SABER list or MoIAT's notified bodies list before you pay.
- Food, cosmetics and supplements go through the SFDA in Saudi Arabia, and wireless products need CST or TDRA type approval on top.
- Ask for one quote that covers SABER, ECAS and the G-Mark for the same product family.
Gulf shoppers buy a lot of electronics, toys, beauty products and home goods. Most of those need a safety certificate before they clear customs.
The good news? The whole system runs online, and the government fees are fixed and public.
So the real choice is who prepares and certifies your file. A good certification body gets it right first time, and each shipment after that is a quick online request.
Below you'll find what these firms do, what they charge, how to pick one and 10 independently researched providers. It's part of our directory of GCC service providers.
When do you need a certification consultant or body?
You need one as soon as your product falls under a Gulf technical regulation. That covers electricals, toys, textiles, tyres, building materials and many other consumer goods.
Three kinds of organisation are involved, and it helps to know who does what:
- Official portals. SABER in Saudi Arabia and the MoIAT Conformity Hub in the UAE. You hold the account, pay the fixed fees and receive the certificate here.
- Certification bodies. Firms such as SGS, Intertek or TÜV, approved by SASO or MoIAT. They review test reports, test samples, inspect factories where needed and issue the certificate.
- Consultants and agents. They prepare your file, classify the product and run the portal for you. They can't issue certificates, but they save you time if you're new.
Think of SABER as a passport office for your product. The certification body is the one that checks your documents and stamps the passport.
Can you do it yourself? Yes, if you have a Saudi CR or UAE licence and clean test reports. Most first-time importers still use a body that handles the whole file, because one rejected shipment costs more than the fee.
Which certificate does your product need?
It depends on the country and the product. Most sellers deal with two or three of the schemes below.
| Country | Covers | Who issues it | Government fee | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SABER PCoC and SCoC | Saudi Arabia | SASO-regulated consumer goods | SASO-approved certification body, via SABER | SAR 500 per product, SAR 350 per shipment |
| ECAS certificate | UAE | MoIAT-regulated goods such as electricals and toys | MoIAT, with a notified body's reports | AED 1,720 per certificate |
| Emirates Quality Mark (EQM) | UAE | Voluntary quality mark for most products | MoIAT | Fixed MoIAT fees |
| GCC G-Mark | All GCC states | Toys and low-voltage electricals under Gulf rules | Gulf notified body | Quoted by the body |
| SFDA approval | Saudi Arabia | Food, cosmetics, supplements, medical devices | SFDA, filed by a licensed importer | Free for cosmetics and simple foods, SAR 5,000 per supplement |
| CST type approval | Saudi Arabia | Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, cellular and IoT devices | CST, per model | Quoted by consultants |
| TDRA type approval | UAE | Wireless and telecom devices | TDRA | Quoted by consultants |
A few rules of thumb:
- Selling a regulated product in Saudi Arabia? You need SABER. Our SABER and SASO certificate guide walks through every step.
- Selling in the UAE? Check the product against MoIAT's regulated list. See our guide to UAE ECAS and EQM certification.
- Selling food, skincare or vitamins in the Kingdom? That's SFDA, not SABER. See our guide to SFDA rules for cosmetics, food and supplements.
Certification bodies and consultants serving the Gulf
The organisations below were independently researched. They aren't ranked, and the order isn't a recommendation.
On each card, the "Best for" line is our summary of where the firm fits. The bullet points are what the company says about itself, or what the press has reported.
How do you use the list? Start with the official portal for your country. Then ask two or three bodies approved for your regulation to quote the same product file.
Saudi Arabia
SABER (SASO platform, official)
Best for: Every seller importing regulated goods to Saudi Arabia - start here
- Official SASO platform; required before regulated products enter KSA
- Fees: SAR 500 per product conformity certificate, SAR 350 per shipment certificate (excl. VAT)
- Shipment certificate validity extended from 60 to 90 days
SGS
Best for: Chinese factories and brands needing testing + SABER certificates from one global body
- SGS says it is a SASO-accredited certification body issuing SABER Product Certificates and Shipment Certificates, and can register products in SABER
- July 2025: SASO approval for the Communication and IT Devices regulation (phones, modems, laptops)
- Dense lab and inspection network in China
Intertek
Best for: Electronics and consumer goods exporters wanting testing and certification in China before shipping
- Runs government product-conformity programmes for several countries (company materials)
- Large China testing footprint
Bureau Veritas
Best for: Sellers with mixed product ranges (toys, textiles, electricals) needing one body for KSA and UAE
- Designatable as conformity assessment body in SABER: checks documents, tests samples, inspects factories where required; SASO-accepted CAB under SALEEM (2019 flyer)
- Says it is an accredited Notified Body approved by UAE MoIAT for ECAS and EQM certification
TÜV SÜD
Best for: Electronics/appliance brands with existing CB reports wanting SABER conversion
- TÜV SÜD Middle East says SASO approved it to issue SABER certificates; listed scopes include leather, textiles, footwear, accessories, paper/cardboard, paints and packaging
- July 2025: SASO notified body for the Communications and IT Devices regulation (wireless/radio and telecom product and shipment certificates)
- TÜV SÜD PSB (Singapore) is SASO-approved for Asia/Australia-made goods incl. textiles, batteries, detergents, low-voltage electricals
TÜV Rheinland
Best for: Chinese manufacturers already using TÜV for EU marks
- Large China product-testing presence (company materials)
Applus+
Best for: Industrial and automotive parts sellers
- Runs product conformity schemes for Gulf regulators (company materials)
UL Solutions
Best for: US brands with UL-listed products expanding to the Gulf
- Global safety science company; GCC market-access services (company materials)
Want the Saudi detail? See our list of product certification consultants in Saudi Arabia.
UAE
SGS
Best for: Chinese factories and brands needing testing + SABER certificates from one global body
- SGS says it is a SASO-accredited certification body issuing SABER Product Certificates and Shipment Certificates, and can register products in SABER
- July 2025: SASO approval for the Communication and IT Devices regulation (phones, modems, laptops)
- Dense lab and inspection network in China
Intertek
Best for: Electronics and consumer goods exporters wanting testing and certification in China before shipping
- Runs government product-conformity programmes for several countries (company materials)
- Large China testing footprint
Bureau Veritas
Best for: Sellers with mixed product ranges (toys, textiles, electricals) needing one body for KSA and UAE
- Designatable as conformity assessment body in SABER: checks documents, tests samples, inspects factories where required; SASO-accepted CAB under SALEEM (2019 flyer)
- Says it is an accredited Notified Body approved by UAE MoIAT for ECAS and EQM certification
TÜV SÜD
Best for: Electronics/appliance brands with existing CB reports wanting SABER conversion
- TÜV SÜD Middle East says SASO approved it to issue SABER certificates; listed scopes include leather, textiles, footwear, accessories, paper/cardboard, paints and packaging
- July 2025: SASO notified body for the Communications and IT Devices regulation (wireless/radio and telecom product and shipment certificates)
- TÜV SÜD PSB (Singapore) is SASO-approved for Asia/Australia-made goods incl. textiles, batteries, detergents, low-voltage electricals
TÜV Rheinland
Best for: Chinese manufacturers already using TÜV for EU marks
- Large China product-testing presence (company materials)
Applus+
Best for: Industrial and automotive parts sellers
- Runs product conformity schemes for Gulf regulators (company materials)
UL Solutions
Best for: US brands with UL-listed products expanding to the Gulf
- Global safety science company; GCC market-access services (company materials)
Dubai Central Laboratory (Dubai Municipality)
Best for: Cosmetics, food-contact and consumer products needing Dubai Municipality registration
- Government lab under Dubai Municipality
MoIAT Conformity Hub (UAE, official)
Best for: Anyone selling regulated products (electricals, toys, tyres, etc.) in the UAE
- Official UAE portal; lists notified bodies and ENAS-accredited CABs
For more on the UAE side, see product certification consultants in the UAE.
SGS, Intertek and Bureau Veritas also say they serve Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain and Oman. Ask for their national conformity schemes when you quote.
How do you choose a certification body in 6 steps?
Start with your product, not the firm. Once you know the regulation and who will import, the shortlist is short.
- 1
Classify the product
Find the HS code (the customs code for your product) and the technical regulation that applies. A body can confirm this before you pay anything.
- 2
Confirm who holds the certificate
In Saudi Arabia, the importer with a CR holds the SABER account. In the UAE, a licence holder applies. Foreign brands use a distributor or an importer-of-record service.
- 3
Check the body's approval
Look it up on SABER's list of conformity assessment bodies or MoIAT's notified bodies list. Approval is per regulation, so check yours.
- 4
Send your existing test reports
CB, EN, CE or UL reports from an accredited lab often cover most of the work. Ask the body to list the gaps in writing.
- 5
Compare written quotes per product family
Ask what one certificate covers. Certifying a whole model family at once usually costs less than model by model.
- 6
Book one product first
Run one product through, and watch speed and communication. Then move the rest of your range.
How do certification bodies charge?
Government fees are fixed. Everything else is quoted, so it pays to know which line is which.
| Cost line | How it's priced | What to watch |
|---|---|---|
| SABER fees | SAR 500 per PCoC, SAR 350 per SCoC, plus 15% VAT | Paid by the importer on SABER |
| MoIAT fees | AED 1,720 per ECAS certificate (AED 600 registration, AED 620 review, AED 500 issuance) | Renewed every year |
| Certification body fee | Per product or model family | What one certificate covers |
| Lab testing | Per test or test package | Whether your existing reports are accepted |
| Factory inspection | Per audit day, plus travel (MoIAT charges AED 2,500 per assessor-day) | Only when the regulation or MoIAT asks for one |
| Consultant or agent fee | Per file or as a package | What's included, and whose account is used |
The certification body's fee varies most. Bodies quote anywhere from a few hundred to a few thousand US dollars per product family.
For example, say you certify one kettle for both markets. Saudi Arabia costs SAR 575 for the PCoC with VAT, then SAR 402.50 for each shipment.
The UAE adds AED 1,720 for the ECAS certificate, renewed yearly. Everything above that is the body's fee and any new testing, so that's the number to compare.
Want the full SABER cost breakdown with a worked example? See our SABER certification guide for Chinese exporters.
What should you ask before you hire one?
Send these questions to every firm on your shortlist. Clear, written answers are a good sign.
Once the certificate is ready, your customs broker uses it to clear each shipment.
Notes for Chinese factories and exporters
- Test before you ship. SGS, Intertek, Bureau Veritas, TÜV SÜD and TÜV Rheinland run large labs in China, so testing can happen at the factory.
- Agree the importer early. Your Saudi buyer, an importer-of-record service or your own CR holds the SABER account. Without one, there's no certificate.
- Fix labels before mass production. Saudi Arabia wants "Made in China" on products and packs, and Arabic consumer labels.
- Certify model families. One file for a whole range is cheaper than one per colour or size.
The full factory-side process is in our guide to SABER certification for Chinese exporters.
Notes for electronics and wireless sellers
- Type approval is separate. Anything with Wi-Fi, Bluetooth or a SIM needs CST type approval in Saudi Arabia and TDRA type approval in the UAE, on top of SABER or ECAS.
- Approval is per model. Consultants report CST approvals last about two years before renewal.
- USB Type-C is now required on phones, laptops, cameras, keyboards, mice and routers sold in Saudi Arabia.
- Use bodies with telecom scope. SGS and TÜV SÜD say SASO approved them in July 2025 for the Communications and IT Devices regulation.
Notes for cosmetics, food and supplement brands
- It's SFDA, not SABER. Skincare is listed in SFDA's GHAD system, and food is registered in FIRS.
- Your Saudi importer files. The SFDA-licensed importer holds the listings, so pick that partner first.
- Dubai has its own registration. Cosmetics and food-contact products sold in Dubai go through Dubai Municipality's Montaji system.
Labels matter for all three. See our GCC product labelling guide.
Get certification quotes
Share your product details once. We'll match you with bodies that fit your product and market.
In this section
Frequently asked questions
A certification body (a conformity assessment body, or CAB) is approved by SASO or MoIAT to review tests and issue certificates. A consultant or agent prepares your file, talks to the body and runs the SABER or MoIAT account for you. The consultant can't issue a certificate itself, so the body's name should appear on whatever you receive.
Sources & further reading
- SABER platform: fees, validity and services — Saudi Standards, Metrology and Quality Organization (SASO)
- Conformity assessment bodies accepted on SABER — SASO / SABER
- MoIAT Conformity Hub — UAE Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology
- SALEEM Saudi product safety programme — SGS
- Saudi Arabia SABER certification — TÜV SÜD
- Step-by-step guide to CST type approval in Saudi Arabia — Approve-It
- GSO homepage and FAQ — GCC Standardization Organization (GSO)
This guide is for general information only and is not legal, tax or financial advice. Rules and fees change — always confirm with the official source or a licensed advisor.
Maya is MiddleEastEcom's lead guide and editor. She researches GCC marketplaces, payments and regulations and turns them into practical playbooks for sellers.
Meet Maya
