Overview
Dishwashers sit in the same regulatory family as washing machines: they are wet appliances connected to both the mains supply and the water supply, and Saudi Arabia treats water consumption as seriously as energy consumption. Every model must clear an electrical safety assessment and an efficiency assessment, and the two are checked together.
A Product Certificate of Conformity (PCoC) is required for the model and a Shipment Certificate of Conformity (SCoC) for each consignment. In addition, each model must be registered on the Saudi efficiency programme, tested against the MEPS threshold and carry the correct label. The MEPS is a pass/fail gate — a dishwasher that is perfectly safe but consumes too much energy or water per cycle cannot be certified at all.
Product Types
The SABER route and efficiency rules apply across household and light-commercial dishwashing appliances, including:
- Freestanding full-size household dishwashers (60 cm)
- Slimline household dishwashers (45 cm)
- Built-in and fully integrated dishwashers
- Countertop and compact dishwashers
- Drawer-type dishwashers
- Light-commercial undercounter glasswashers and dishwashers
- Hood-type and pass-through commercial dishwashers
The scope of your certificate and efficiency label is defined from the appliance type, place setting capacity and declared energy and water consumption per cycle. We structure the certificate so the models you actually export are covered.
HS Codes
Dishwashing machines are commonly classified under the headings below. These are examples only — the correct code depends on whether the machine is a household or commercial type.
- 8422.11 — Dishwashing machines of the household type
- 8422.19 — Dishwashing machines, other than household type — commercial and industrial units
- 8422.90 — Parts of dishwashing machines
- 8481.80 — Taps, cocks and valves — relevant to inlet and drain assemblies shipped separately
Applicable Saudi Requirements
Dishwashers are certified through SABER registration on the Saudi platform, together with efficiency registration. The main requirements are:
- A valid PCoC issued against the applicable Technical Regulation and standards
- An SCoC for each individual shipment before customs clearance
- Energy- and water-efficiency testing showing the model meets the Minimum Energy Performance Standard (MEPS)
- A registered and approved SASO Energy & Water Efficiency Label printed and affixed to each unit
- Electrical safety test evidence to the applicable IEC household-appliance standard
- Correct marking of voltage, rated power, place settings, energy class and water consumption per cycle
- A registered Saudi importer on the SABER platform to link the shipment
Technical Regulation
Dishwashers are assessed under two connected regimes: the applicable Saudi Technical Regulation for low-voltage electrical safety, and the Saudi energy-efficiency regulation that sets the MEPS thresholds and labelling rules for both energy and water consumption. The exact regulation and standard set is confirmed at assessment from the appliance type and HS code. Our Technical Regulations guide explains how regulations are matched to products.
Testing / Standards
Dishwashers are typically evaluated for both safety and energy/water performance. Typical verification includes:
- IEC 60335-1 — general requirements for the safety of household and similar electrical appliances
- IEC 60335-2-5 — particular requirements for the safety of dishwashers
- IEC 60436 — performance measurement of household electric dishwashers, including cleaning and drying performance
- SASO energy- and water-efficiency standards — energy consumption, water consumption and MEPS classification
- Energy consumption (kWh/cycle) and water consumption (litres/cycle) measurement and index calculation
- CISPR 14-1 and CISPR 14-2 — electromagnetic emission and immunity
- Electrical safety — insulation, earthing, leakage, water ingress, door interlock and abnormal operation
Existing IECEE CB reports and accredited energy/water test reports may be accepted where they cover the correct model and are within validity. We review your reports before arranging any new product testing, so you only test what is genuinely missing.
Documents Required
A typical dishwasher application uses the set below; our full documents required guide explains each item.
- Commercial invoice and packing list
- HS code of the appliance, distinguishing household from commercial type
- Technical datasheet showing place settings, rated power, energy consumption (kWh/cycle) and water consumption (litres/cycle)
- Electrical safety test report to IEC 60335-2-5
- Accredited energy- and water-efficiency test report supporting the MEPS classification
- Performance report to IEC 60436 where required for the declared programme data
- Product photographs showing the rating plate and efficiency-label area
- Manufacturer details and Declaration of Conformity where relevant
- Saudi importer registration details
PCoC Process
The Product Certificate of Conformity certifies the dishwashers model or range against the applicable standards. In outline:
- Classification and scope
We confirm the appliance type, HS code, place-setting capacity, energy and water ratings and applicable standards, and define what the certificate should cover.
- Report and efficiency-label review
We check whether your safety and efficiency test reports can be reused, confirm the model meets the MEPS thresholds, and prepare the SASO Energy & Water Efficiency Label.
- Technical review
An approved certification body reviews the documents, markings, efficiency classification and test evidence against the regulations.
- PCoC and efficiency label issued
Once the review is satisfied, the PCoC is issued on the SABER platform and the approved label is confirmed for the model. It is typically valid for one year.
SCoC Process
A Shipment Certificate of Conformity is issued per consignment and is what customs checks at the border. In outline:
- Shipment details submitted
The invoice, packing list and the linked PCoC are submitted for the specific consignment.
- Verification and payment
The shipment is verified against the valid PCoC and any efficiency registration, and the SCoC fee is settled on the platform.
- SCoC issued
The SCoC is issued for that shipment, allowing it to clear Saudi customs. Each new shipment needs its own SCoC.
Certification Timeline
The main variable is whether valid safety and efficiency test reports already exist and whether the model already meets the MEPS. Our SABER timeline guide covers this in detail.
- With acceptable existing safety and efficiency reports — a PCoC and label can typically be arranged within a few working days
- When fresh testing is required — energy and water consumption testing runs full programme cycles, so laboratory turnaround is the main driver, usually a few weeks
- SCoC — normally issued quickly per shipment once a valid PCoC and efficiency registration are in place
Common Problems
- Model does not meet the current MEPS energy or water threshold — the most frequent reason a dishwasher cannot be certified
- Missing or non-accredited energy/water-consumption test report
- Efficiency label not printed, wrong version, or not affixed to the unit
- Declared place settings, energy or water consumption not matching the test report or rating plate
- Commercial machine submitted against household thresholds, or the reverse
- Safety report covering a different model or door configuration than the units shipped
We check these points up front — especially the MEPS energy and water ratings — so shipments are not held at customs or rejected for avoidable reasons.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do dishwashers need an efficiency label as well as SABER certification?
Yes. Dishwashers must carry an approved SASO Energy & Water Efficiency Label and meet the Minimum Energy Performance Standard (MEPS) in addition to their SABER conformity certificate. The efficiency registration and the PCoC are handled together, and a model that fails the MEPS cannot be certified — so we confirm the declared energy and water consumption up front.
Why is water consumption regulated as well as energy?
A dishwasher draws on both the electricity supply and the water supply, and in Saudi Arabia water efficiency is regulated alongside energy. The label and MEPS cover energy consumption per cycle and water consumption per cycle. A machine that performs well on energy but uses too much water per cycle can still fail the standard, so both figures have to be supported by the test report.
Are commercial dishwashers treated differently from household models?
Yes. Household dishwashers (usually HS 8422.11) and commercial machines such as undercounter glasswashers and hood-type units (usually HS 8422.19) can attract different efficiency and labelling treatment, and a commercial machine is not assessed against household MEPS thresholds. Submitting one against the other's requirements is a common cause of rejection. We confirm which regime applies before the file is prepared.
Can one PCoC cover a range of dishwasher models?
A PCoC can often cover a range of related models from the same manufacturer and family, depending on how the scope is defined and whether they share efficiency classification and construction. Different capacities, door configurations or efficiency classes usually need their own testing and label. We structure the certificate so the models you actually export are covered.
How much does SABER certification for dishwashers cost and how long does it take?
It depends mainly on whether valid safety and efficiency test reports already exist and whether the model meets the MEPS. With acceptable reports a PCoC and label can often be arranged within a few working days; if fresh energy and water testing is required the laboratory turnaround is the main variable, because the test runs complete programme cycles. Send your appliance details and reports for a specific quote and timeline at no cost. See our SABER certificate cost guide.
How long is the PCoC valid, and do I need a new SCoC for every shipment?
A Product Certificate of Conformity is typically valid for one year, so one PCoC can cover multiple shipments of the same dishwashers during that period. A Shipment Certificate of Conformity is issued per consignment — every individual shipment needs its own SCoC before it can clear Saudi customs.
Get Your Dishwashers Certified
Send us your appliance type, place-setting capacity, rated power, energy consumption (kWh/cycle), water consumption (litres/cycle), HS code and any existing safety or efficiency test reports. We will confirm the applicable Technical Regulation and MEPS thresholds, review your testing, prepare the SASO Energy & Water Efficiency Label, and coordinate the PCoC and each SCoC so your shipments clear Saudi customs without delay.