CST (ex-CITC) and SASO: certification in Saudi Arabia
Placing an electronic product on the Saudi market involves two authorities and one platform. The Communications, Space and Technology Commission (CST, called CITC until November 2022) sets the technical specifications for telecommunications and IT equipment and approves it. The Saudi Standards, Metrology and Quality Organization (SASO) issues the technical regulations, among them a regulation for communications and IT devices, published in August 2024, that lists the CST specifications as Saudi standards, and a regulation for EMC. SABER, the SASO platform, carries the product certificate and the shipment certificate that customs check. This page reads those texts directly: CST regulation RT12 and specification GEN001, the SASO regulations for ICT devices, EMC and conformity models, the Gulf low voltage regulation, and the circulars SABER published in 2026.
Who does what
Section titled “Who does what”| Actor | Role in the texts | What the manufacturer gets from it |
|---|---|---|
| CST (Communications, Space and Technology Commission) | Issues licences for telecommunications and IT equipment and the technical specifications they must meet (RT12, sections 1 and 4) | Equipment approval, then a certificate of conformity to CST specifications (RT12, sections 6 and 8) |
| SASO (Saudi Standards, Metrology and Quality Organization) | Issues technical regulations and conformity models, accepts conformity assessment bodies | A certificate from a SASO-accepted body (Type 1a for ICT devices), or a supplier declaration where the regulation allows it (EMC) |
| SABER | SASO platform for product registration, product certificates and shipment certificates | Product certificate registration (one year) and a shipment certificate per consignment (90 days) |
| ZATCA (the Saudi tax and customs authority) | Publishes the restricted goods list and runs the customs clearance platform referenced by RT12 | Customs clearance; CST customs clearance permission for restricted goods (RT12, section 10) |
The regulator was created as the Saudi Communications Commission by Council of Ministers Decision No. 74 dated 5/3/1422H, renamed the Communications and Information Technology Commission when IT was added, and renamed CST by Cabinet Decree No. 235 dated 07/04/1444H (10 November 2022), when the space sector was transferred to it. RT12 now rests on the Communications and Information Technology Act enacted by Royal Decree No. M/106 dated 02/11/1443H.
The split is not "CST for radio, SASO for the rest". RT12 section 4 states that the technical specifications issued by CST "are considered Saudi standard specifications approved by" SASO, and the SASO ICT devices regulation lists them in its Annex 1 as SASO-CITC-GEN001, SASO-CITC-RI117 and so on. Article 4/1/4 of the same regulation requires the supplier to comply with the CST licensing regulations and the CST exposure regulations.
Key dates
Section titled “Key dates”| Date | Event | Source |
|---|---|---|
| April 2018 | First version of the CST equipment text, "Provisions for the Import and Licensing of Telecommunications and Information Technology Equipment" | RT12, version table |
| 1 July 2020 | SASO announces completion of the link between SABER and the customs clearance platform | SABER |
| 20 July 2021 | GEN001 Issue 04 (general requirements for all ICT equipment) enters into force | GEN001 |
| February 2022 | RT12 second version | RT12, version table |
| 10 November 2022 | CITC renamed CST (Cabinet Decree No. 235) | CST |
| 17 November 2023 | SASO EMC regulation and General Regulation for Conformity Models published (approved 28 September 2023) | SASO |
| 8 February 2024 | RT12 third version, CST Decision 532/1445 | CST |
| 16 August 2024 | SASO Technical Regulation for Communications and Information Technology Devices published (approved 28 December 2023) | SASO |
| 15 November 2024 | SASO board approves the executive regulations of the Product Safety Law (Royal Decree No. M/36 dated 29/01/1446H) | SABER circular |
| 1 January 2025 | USB Type-C phase 1 date in Annex 2 of the ICT devices regulation (mobile phones, tablets, routers and others) | SASO ICT devices regulation |
| 1 April 2026 | USB Type-C phase 2 date in Annex 2 (laptops) | SASO ICT devices regulation |
| 1 May 2026 | SABER starts applying the charging port decision to digital cameras, e-readers, speakers, keyboards, mice, portable navigation systems, portable speakers and wireless routers | SABER circular |
| 1 October 2026 | Supplier name and commercial registration number required on the product for 10 listed technical regulations | SABER circular |
| 31 October 2026 | End of the grace period for SASO 3114:2026, which replaces SASO-CITC-GEN002 | SABER circular |
| 1 November 2026 | No certificate of conformity may be issued for covered products unless they meet SASO 3114:2026 | SABER circular |
| 31 March 2027 | Latest date on which certificates and shipment certificates based on GEN002 are discontinued | SABER circular |
CST: equipment approval under RT12
Section titled “CST: equipment approval under RT12”RT12 applies to "any party that intends any action related to manufacturing, importation, distribution, sales or usage of telecommunications and IT equipment" in the Kingdom (section 3). Its definition of equipment covers wired and wireless equipment and anything connected to the telecommunications network or whose use may affect it (section 2-4).
The procedure, section by section
Section titled “The procedure, section by section”| RT12 section | What it requires |
|---|---|
| 5 | Equipment conforms to CST specifications, meets any additional requirement (service or frequency licences), is not altered, and is imported under section 9 |
| 6.1.4 and 6.1.5 | Equipment connected to operator networks is tested by the infrastructure operators against CST specification GEN002, within 20 working days of the application unless CST decides otherwise |
| 6.2.2 | Application on the CST website with the manufacturer technical information, a manufacturer declaration of conformity, test reports from labs that meet section 12, and operator test results where GEN002 applies |
| 6.2.3 | CST issues a certificate of conformity "for a specific time duration to be mentioned" in the certificate |
| 7 | A major software update to an approved smart device connected to operator networks is tested by the operators (20 working days) and the results go to CST within 5 working days |
| 8 | The certificate of conformity "does not constitute the Customs Clearance Permission" |
| 9.1.1 | The importer must be a Saudi company or establishment with a commercial registration that includes an ICT equipment activity |
| 10 | Customs clearance permission from CST for equipment on the restricted goods list published by ZATCA, through the ZATCA platform or the CST website |
| 12 | Approved labs: ILAC-accredited laboratories, and laboratories licensed in the Kingdom under the private laboratories law |
| 13.8 | Details of any encryption systems in the equipment must be provided |
| 13.9 | Altering technical parameters during the life cycle is a violation that cancels the approval |
Appendix 1 of RT12 lists the special devices that must be registered to the end user by an approved registrar: desert radios (RI059), emergency beacons (RI096), AIS equipment (RI111), VHF maritime equipment (RI112) and amateur radio equipment (RI021). For those devices only, section 11.8 requires a CST label with model, serial number and certificate of conformity number.
GEN001, the baseline for every ICT product
Section titled “GEN001, the baseline for every ICT product”GEN001 (Issue 04, in force 20 July 2021) "is applicable and mandatory to any ICT equipment", in addition to the product-specific specification. It asks for a notified body statement or similar type examination certificate, or test reports from a laboratory accredited by a member of the ILAC Mutual Recognition Arrangement (since January 1, 2026 the Global ACI MRA covers the former ILAC MRA scope), and requires each interface of a multi-interface product to meet its own specification. The standards it lists are European or IEC standards:
| Area | Standards listed in GEN001 |
|---|---|
| Electrical safety | EN 62368-1 or IEC 62368-1 |
| RF exposure | EN 50360, EN 50364, EN 62479:2010, EN 50385, EN 50566, EN 62311:2008, EN 62209-1528, EN 62209-3, FCC KDB 447498 |
| Optical and laser | EN 60825 or IEC 60825 |
| EMC | EN 55032, EN 55035, EN 301 489, EN or IEC 61000-3-2, 61000-3-3, 61000-3-11, 61000-6-1 to 61000-6-4 |
Where no edition is quoted, GEN001 says the latest published version applies. A file built for the EU RED therefore covers most of the GEN001 list, but the radio parameters are checked against the CST product specification, not against an ETSI harmonised standard as such.
CST specifications most electronics manufacturers meet
Section titled “CST specifications most electronics manufacturers meet”In Annex 1 of the SASO ICT devices regulation, items 1 to 47 are CST specifications; IEC, ISO and SASO standards follow. Those most relevant to connected products:
| Specification | Title (from Annex 1) |
|---|---|
| SASO-CITC-GEN001 | General Requirements |
| SASO-CITC-GEN002 | Requirements for specific ICT Equipment (replaced by SASO 3114:2026, see below) |
| SASO-CITC-GEN003 | Requirements for Radio Modules |
| SASO-CITC-RI054 | Short Range Devices (SRD) |
| SASO-CITC-RI082 | Alarms |
| SASO-CITC-RI085 | Ultra Wideband Equipment |
| SASO-CITC-RI114 | Low Power Wide Area Networks (LPWAN) Equipment operating in License-Exempt Frequency Bands |
| SASO-CITC-RI117 | Data Communication Equipment operating in License-Exempt Frequency Bands |
| SASO-CITC-RI120 | IMT User Equipment |
| SASO-CITC-RI052 | Hearing Aids with Radio Interface |
Frequency bands, power limits and EIRP values sit in these specifications, so a product configured for an ETSI or FCC regulatory domain has to be checked against the CST text for each band. For equipment connected to operator networks, RT12 ties operator testing to GEN002, which SASO 3114:2026 replaces (see the key dates).
SASO: the regulations that apply to an electronic product
Section titled “SASO: the regulations that apply to an electronic product”ICT devices regulation (published 16 August 2024)
Section titled “ICT devices regulation (published 16 August 2024)”| Article | Content |
|---|---|
| 2/1 and 2/2 | Applies to all communications and IT devices, except those used by military and security bodies |
| 4/1/4 | Supplier complies with the CST licensing regulations and the CST exposure regulations |
| 4/1/6 and Annex 2 | Unified USB Type-C charging port |
| 4/2/5 | Wireless devices must ensure that software loading or updates do not affect the conformity already granted |
| 4/2/7 | Safety requirements: electrical safety, radiation exposure, light and laser, EMC |
| 5/2 | Labelling data in Arabic; another language may be added; the Arabic text prevails |
| 5/4 | Supplier name and details, trade mark, manufacturer name and details, model, country of origin and usage warnings shown clearly on the product |
| 5/7 | The competent authority label or marks showing conformity data, on the device or, if size does not allow, on the packaging or an accompanying document |
| 5/9 | Wireless devices state the supported frequency bands and the maximum output power per band |
| 6/1 | Certificate of conformity from a body accepted by SASO, under conformity model Type 1a (ISO/IEC 17067) |
| 6/1/2 | Technical file: supplier declaration, risk assessment, description including supported bands, maximum power per band and built-in encryption systems, design drawings |
| 6/2 and Annex 3 | IECEE national recognition certificate for the listed products, which must cover all requirements of the regulation |
| 10/1 | Supply chain records kept for at least 10 years |
| 10/8 | Any change other than cosmetic during the validity of the certificate voids it; a new application is needed |
| 10/10 | Devices shown at exhibitions without a certificate must say so; wireless demonstrations need the competent authority approval |
| 11 | Applies within 180 days of publication; suppliers have up to 365 days from publication to regularise products on the market |
Annex 3 lists: mobile phones and their accessories (wired and wireless chargers, car chargers, wireless earphones), laptops and tablets with their chargers, smart watches, TVs and displays, video game consoles and accessories, mobile phone charging cables, and desktop PCs. Annex 1 also lists the plug standard SASO 2203 (250 V, 13 A), IEC 62368-1 and IEC 62368-3 as SASO standards.
EMC regulation (published 17 November 2023)
Section titled “EMC regulation (published 17 November 2023)”The SASO EMC regulation sets the general EMC requirements for apparatus and fixed installations. Article 2 excludes radio and telecommunication terminal equipment, aeronautical products and their spare parts, amateur radio equipment, medical equipment, equipment that neither generates significant disturbance nor is affected by it, and boards designed for experts and used for research and development. Its conformity route is lighter than the ICT one: the supplier issues a supplier declaration of conformity under the internal production control model and keeps a technical file (Article 6); products holding the Saudi Quality Mark are deemed to comply. Labelling follows the same Arabic rule (Article 5/2). Annex 1 lists SASO adoptions of CISPR 11, 12, 14-1, 14-2, 15 and 32 and of the IEC 61000-3 and 61000-6 series. It applies within 180 days of publication.
Low voltage: the Gulf regulation BD-142004-01
Section titled “Low voltage: the Gulf regulation BD-142004-01”The SASO technical regulations page links, under "Technical Regulation for Low Voltage Electrical Equipment and Appliances", the Gulf regulation BD-142004-01. Its articles (scope 50 to 1000 V AC or 75 to 1500 V DC, Arabic safety information, List 1 and List 2, acceptance of a CB certificate with Gulf national differences under Art. 20(4)) are tabulated in the GCC guide.
Other SASO regulations to check
Section titled “Other SASO regulations to check”The SASO portal also lists a regulation limiting hazardous substances in electrical and electronic devices (published 9 July 2021, mandatory 5 January 2022, a RoHS-type text), a regulation on standby and off mode power consumption (published 19 May 2023), and the energy efficiency regulation (Issue 1, Amendment 3, published 13 October 2023). Whether one applies depends on the product and its HS code.
Conformity models in the SASO general regulation
Section titled “Conformity models in the SASO general regulation”The General Regulation for Conformity Models (published 17 November 2023) defines the models the technical regulations call up:
| Model | What it is |
|---|---|
| Type S | Internal production control, supplier declaration (first party) |
| Type S1 | Internal production control plus product testing under the supervision of a body |
| Type 1a | Type approval by an accepted body (review of the technical design and samples) |
| Type 1b | Conformity of a specific shipment |
| Type 2 to Type 4 | Type approval plus market sampling, production control, or both |
| Type 5 | Quality system plus type approval, equivalent to the licence to use the quality mark |
For Type 1a, test reports have a validity of three years unless the type is modified.
SABER: product certificate, then shipment certificate
Section titled “SABER: product certificate, then shipment certificate”| SABER service (importers) | Prerequisites | Processing time | Validity | Fee (without VAT) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Product registration | HS code, product name, country of origin, brand, manufacturer, photos, type and model | Immediate | No expiry | Free |
| Product certificate of conformity registration | Registered product, model numbers, technical file per the regulation; request sent to a SASO-accepted conformity assessment body | 5 to 6 working days | One year | SAR 500 |
| Shipment certificate (commercial products) | Registered product, and a registered product certificate or an importer self-declaration | 1 to 2 working days | 90 days | SAR 350 |
The importer self-declaration is for commercial products not subject to a technical regulation. For regulated products, each shipment request goes to the body that issued the product certificate, which must approve it before the certificate can be issued; the invoice depends on the number of bodies involved. SABER publishes a separate shipment certificate guide for CST products holding a certificate of conformity, so radio equipment also goes through SABER at import.
SABER states the shipment certificate validity was extended from 60 to 90 days. It lists its users as importers, local factories, individuals and government entities.
IECEE CB Scheme: what the Saudi texts actually say
Section titled “IECEE CB Scheme: what the Saudi texts actually say”SASO is the IECEE member body for Saudi Arabia (see the CB Scheme guide). The texts give three precise uses of IEC certification, and none of them is a blanket acceptance of CB reports:
- ICT devices regulation, Art. 6/2: for Annex 3 products, an IECEE national recognition certificate is required, and it must cover all requirements of the regulation. For other ICT devices the route is the Type 1a certificate of Art. 6/1.
- Gulf low voltage regulation, Art. 20(4): a CB certificate that includes the Gulf national differences meets the conformity assessment procedures.
- CST GEN001: a notified body statement or type examination certificate, or ILAC-accredited test reports, demonstrate compliance with the listed EN or IEC standards.
A CB test report remains useful evidence in the technical file a body reviews, but its acceptance in the Type 1a route is the decision of that body.
Claims the texts contradict
Section titled “Claims the texts contradict”| Common claim | What the texts say |
|---|---|
| "The Saudi radio regulator is CITC" | Renamed CST by Cabinet Decree No. 235 of 10 November 2022 |
| "CST does radio, SASO does safety and EMC, without overlap" | RT12 section 4 makes CST specifications Saudi standards approved by SASO; the SASO ICT devices regulation lists them in Annex 1 and covers electrical safety, exposure and EMC of ICT devices |
| "A CB report is generally accepted by SASO bodies" | No general rule: Type 1a certificate for ICT devices, IECEE national recognition certificate for Annex 3 products, CB certificate with Gulf differences under BD-142004-01 Art. 20(4) |
| "The SASO EMC regulation covers radio products" | Article 2 excludes radio and telecommunication terminal equipment |
| "The CITC number must be on every label, like an FCC ID" | RT12 requires a CST label (model, serial number, certificate number) only for the Appendix 1 special devices (section 11.8); the ICT devices regulation (Art. 5/7) refers to the competent authority labels or marks, with packaging or an accompanying document allowed when size does not permit |
| "The shipment certificate is linked to the bill of lading" | The SABER CST guide builds the request from invoices, models, quantities and the shipping country; the certificate is valid 90 days |
| "SABER has been operational since 2019" | SABER does not give a launch date; it states the link between SABER and the customs clearance platform was completed on 1 July 2020 |
| "Bilingual Arabic and English labelling is mandatory" | Arabic is mandatory; another language may be added; the Arabic text prevails (Art. 5/2 of the ICT and EMC regulations) |
| "SASO regulations reference IEC 60950-1" | GEN001 and the ICT devices regulation list IEC 62368-1 |
| "Test reports from any lab are accepted" | RT12 section 12: ILAC-accredited labs or labs licensed in the Kingdom; GEN001: ILAC MRA accreditation or a notified body statement |
| "SABER fees and validity are unknown" | SABER publishes them: SAR 500 for a product certificate (one year), SAR 350 for a shipment certificate (90 days), excluding VAT |
Labelling checklist from the texts
Section titled “Labelling checklist from the texts”- Arabic for the labelling data, with Arabic prevailing over any other language (ICT and EMC regulations, Art. 5/2).
- Identification: supplier name and details, trade mark, manufacturer name and details, model, country of origin, usage warnings (ICT regulation, Art. 5/4); a type, batch or serial number (Art. 5/5).
- Radio: supported frequency bands and maximum output power per band (Art. 5/9).
- Competent authority marks showing conformity data (Art. 5/7).
- USB Type-C port; for phones and tablets sold with a charger, the pictogram showing it is included; "USB PD" where supported, which is required above 5 V, 3 A or 15 W of wired charging (Annex 2).
The circular requiring the supplier name and commercial registration number on the product from 1 October 2026 lists 10 regulations (tanks, watercraft, trailers, self-balancing boards, simple pressure vessels, child restraints, hydraulic binders, small photovoltaic systems, lifts); the ICT devices regulation already requires the supplier details through Art. 5/4.
Step-by-step for a connected consumer product
Section titled “Step-by-step for a connected consumer product”- Classify the product: is it an ICT device (ICT regulation, Type 1a, possibly Annex 3), a non-radio apparatus (EMC regulation, supplier declaration), mains equipment (BD-142004-01), and which CST specification covers each radio interface (GEN001 plus RI054, RI114, RI117 or RI120)?
- Line up the Saudi party: a Saudi importer with a commercial registration covering ICT equipment (RT12, 9.1.1), who will hold the SABER account.
- Collect the evidence: test reports from ILAC-accredited labs against the GEN001 standards and the CST product specification; operator test results where RT12 requires them; an IECEE national recognition certificate for Annex 3 products.
- CST approval: application on the CST website with technical information, declaration of conformity and reports (RT12, 6.2).
- SASO certificate: Type 1a certificate from a SASO-accepted body, registered on SABER (one year).
- Label and packaging: Arabic data, identification, bands and power, USB Type-C requirements.
- Each shipment: SABER shipment certificate (90 days), CST customs clearance permission if the item is on the restricted goods list.
- Changes: any non-cosmetic change voids the SASO certificate (Art. 10/8); altering technical parameters cancels the CST approval (RT12, 13.9); a major software update on a network-connected smart device follows RT12 section 7.
For cross-cutting orders of magnitude on each phase, see certification timeline.
Compared with CE and FCC
Section titled “Compared with CE and FCC”| Criterion | CE (EU) | FCC (US) | CST + SASO (Saudi Arabia) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Who certifies | Manufacturer declaration, notified body where required | TCB grant for intentional radiators | CST equipment approval, plus a certificate from a SASO-accepted body (Type 1a for ICT devices) |
| Standards | Harmonised EN standards | FCC rules and KDB | CST specifications, many referencing EN or IEC standards (GEN001) |
| Who applies | Manufacturer | Applicant for the grant | Saudi importer with a commercial registration (RT12, 9.1.1) |
| Per-shipment step | None | None | SABER shipment certificate, valid 90 days |
| Validity | No fixed term | No fixed term for the grant | SABER product certificate registration: one year; CST certificate: duration stated on it |
| Labelling language | Language of the member state | English | Arabic, other languages optional |
For the EU and US comparison itself, see CE vs FCC. EU obligations such as WEEE and RoHS do not transfer automatically: for substances, SASO has its own hazardous substances regulation, mentioned above. An attestation from an EU body is not, in itself, a Saudi certificate. In the US, the FCC ID is the identifier carried by every granted device; the Saudi texts read here have no equivalent general marking rule.
Further reading
Section titled “Further reading”- CE marking: EU reference framework for CB-Scheme report reuse
- FCC: US regime, whose RF exposure procedure KDB 447498 GEN001 also lists
- RED: EU radio regime, whose EN standards GEN001 relies on
- PTCRB: cellular homologation, applicable in parallel for 4G / 5G modules
- Certification timeline: cross-cutting orders of magnitude for the phases
- Parallel EU and US certification: pooling logic for test campaigns, partly transposable to Saudi Arabia
- IECEE CB Scheme: how CB certificates and national differences work
- How radio type approval works worldwide: where CST sits among national regimes
- USB-IF and USB-C certification: the USB standards behind the charging port rule
- Glossary: definitions of CITC, SASO, SABER, PCoC, SCoC, CAB, CB-Scheme
See also
Section titled “See also”- Africa: Egypt (NTRA), Nigeria (NCC), Kenya (CA)
- TDRA (UAE) and SDPPI (Indonesia): radio approval
- GCC: Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, Oman and the G-Mark (GSO)
- India: BIS (CRS), TEC (MTCTE) and WPC (ETA) certifications
- NCC Taiwan: radio certification and BSMI
Sources & references
- CST, Who we are (Cabinet Decree No. 235, change of name from CITC), CST www.cst.gov.sa/en/about/who-we-are
- CST, Regulations for Licensing of Telecommunications and Information Technology Equipment (RT12, Decision 532/1445), CST www.cst.gov.sa/en/regulations-and-licenses/regulations/Document-1582
- CITC technical specification GEN001, General Requirements, Issue 04, CST www.cst.gov.sa/en/RulesandSystems/RegulatoryDocuments/EquipmentApproval/Technical_Specification/GEN001.pdf
- SASO Technical Regulations portal (approval, publication and application dates), SASO www.saso.gov.sa/en/Laws-And-Regulations/Technical_regulations/Pages/default.aspx
- SASO, Technical Regulation for Communications and Information Technology Devices (Arabic), SASO www.saso.gov.sa/ar/Laws-And-Regulations/Technical_regulations/Documents/TR-Communications-and-Information-Technology-Devices.pdf
- SASO, Technical Regulation for Electromagnetic Compatibility (Arabic), SASO www.saso.gov.sa/ar/Laws-And-Regulations/Technical_regulations/Documents/TR-Electromagnetic-Compatibility.pdf
- SASO, General Regulation for Conformity Models (Arabic), SASO www.saso.gov.sa/ar/Laws-And-Regulations/Technical_regulations/Documents/TR-General-Regulation-for-Conformity-Models.pdf
- Gulf Technical Regulation for Low Voltage Electrical Equipment and Appliances BD-142004-01 (as published by SASO), SASO www.saso.gov.sa/en/Laws-And-Regulations/Technical_regulations/Documents/Gulf-Technical-Regulation-for-Low-Voltage-Electrical-Equipment-and-Appliances-BD-142004-01.pdf
- SABER platform, home page notices and FAQ, SASO saber.sa/
- SABER, register a product certificate of conformity (importers), SASO saber.sa/home/ImportersCOC
- SABER, issue a shipment certificate for commercial products (importers), SASO saber.sa/home/ImportersSPCertificateComercial
- SABER user guide, shipment certificate for a CST product (Arabic), SASO saber.sa/UserGuids/UserGuideForShipmentCertificateCST-Ar.pdf
- SABER circular, SASO 3114:2026 replaces SASO CITC GEN-002, SASO saber.sa/Assets/Home/updateStandardSpecification.pdf
- SABER circular, unification of charging ports from 1 May 2026, SASO saber.sa/Assets/Home/unify-shipping-outlets.pdf
- SABER circular, supplier name and commercial registration on the product, SASO saber.sa/Assets/Home/Circular_Supplier_Name_and_CR_on_Product.pdf
- What is the IECEE CB scheme?, IECEE www.iecee.org/who-we-are/cb-scheme
- IECEE member bodies (Saudi Arabia: SASO), IECEE www.iecee.org/members/member-bodies
- Global Accreditation Cooperation Incorporated launch (January 1, 2026), IAF iaf.nu/en/news/global-accreditation-cooperation-incorporated-launch-unifies-international-accreditation-organisations-and-strengthens-worldwide-trust/
Frequently asked questions
- Is the Saudi radio regulator still called CITC?
- No. Cabinet Decree No. 235 dated 07/04/1444H (10 November 2022) transferred the space sector to the Commission and changed its name to the Communications, Space and Technology Commission (CST). Older documents, including the CST general requirements GEN001 (Issue 04, 2021) and the SASO-CITC specification numbers, still carry the CITC name.
- What is the difference between CST and SASO for an electronic product?
- CST sets the technical specifications for telecommunications and IT equipment and runs equipment approval under its Regulations for Licensing of Telecommunications and IT Equipment (RT12, third version, February 2024). SASO issues the technical regulations, including the Technical Regulation for Communications and Information Technology Devices published on 16 August 2024. The two overlap by design: RT12 states that CST specifications are Saudi standards approved by SASO, and the SASO regulation lists them (SASO-CITC-GEN001, RI117 and others) in its Annex 1.
- What does SABER issue and what does it cost?
- SABER is the SASO platform where importers register products, register a product certificate of conformity issued by a conformity assessment body accepted by SASO, and then issue a shipment certificate for each consignment. SABER lists the product certificate registration at SAR 500 excluding VAT with a validity of one year, and the shipment certificate at SAR 350 excluding VAT with a validity of 90 days (extended from 60 days).
- Is an IECEE CB report accepted by SASO?
- Not as a general rule stated in the texts. The ICT devices regulation requires a Type 1a certificate from a body accepted by SASO and, for the products in its Annex 3 (mobile phones and their chargers, laptops, tablets, smart watches, TVs and displays, game consoles, charging cables, desktop PCs), an IECEE national recognition certificate that covers all requirements of the regulation. The Gulf low voltage regulation that SASO publishes accepts a CB certificate that includes the Gulf national differences (Art. 20(4)).
- Which test laboratories does CST accept?
- RT12 section 12 deems approved the laboratories accredited under ILAC and the laboratories licensed in Saudi Arabia under the private laboratories law. GEN001 asks for a notified body statement or similar type examination certificate, or test reports from a laboratory accredited by a member of the ILAC Mutual Recognition Arrangement. Since January 1, 2026 the Global ACI MRA covers the former ILAC MRA scope.
- Is Arabic labelling mandatory?
- Yes. Article 5 of both the SASO ICT devices regulation and the SASO EMC regulation requires the labelling data to be in Arabic; another language may be added, and the Arabic text prevails. The ICT devices regulation also requires the supplier and manufacturer names and details, the model, the country of origin and usage warnings to be shown clearly on the product.
- Can a foreign manufacturer apply directly?
- For CST, RT12 section 9.1.1 requires the party that imports and markets telecommunications and IT equipment to be a Saudi company or establishment with a valid commercial registration covering that activity. SABER lists its users as importers, local factories, individuals and government entities. A foreign manufacturer therefore works through a Saudi importer or agent.
- What changes in late 2026?
- SABER announced that SASO 3114:2026 replaces SASO-CITC-GEN002 in the ICT devices regulation, with a grace period to 31 October 2026. From 1 November 2026 no certificate of conformity can be issued against the old text, and certificates based on GEN002 will be discontinued no later than 31 March 2027.