Is a SABER Certificate Required for Textiles & Footwear?
Yes. Textile products, garments, home textiles and footwear are treated as regulated products on the SABER platform under the Saudi Technical Regulation for Textile Products. A Product Certificate of Conformity (PCoC) is required before each shipment can obtain a Shipment Certificate of Conformity (SCoC) and clear Saudi customs.
Unlike electrical goods, textile conformity is driven mainly by chemical safety and labelling. Fibre composition, restricted substances such as azo dyes and formaldehyde, and correct Arabic care and content labelling are checked closely, and incorrect or missing labelling is a common cause of rejection.
Applicable Technical Regulations
Textiles and footwear are certified through SABER registration, and the SASO requirements that apply depend on the product and its intended use. The exact regulation and standards are confirmed at assessment from the product specification and HS code.
- Technical Regulation for Textile Products — the primary framework covering fabrics, garments, home textiles and made-ups
- Restricted-substance limits — azo dyes, formaldehyde content and pH of aqueous extract
- Fibre-composition and content requirements, verified against the declared label
- Care-labelling and Arabic-labelling requirements — fibre content, country of origin and care instructions in Arabic
- Footwear material and labelling requirements for the upper, lining and sole
Testing Requirements
- Azo-dye (banned aromatic amines) screening
- Free and released formaldehyde content
- pH of aqueous extract
- Fibre-composition analysis against the declared label
- Colourfastness (to washing, rubbing and perspiration) where required
Existing test reports from an accredited laboratory may be accepted if they cover the exact material and are within validity. We assess existing reports before arranging new product testing, so you only test what is genuinely missing.
SABER Certificate Requirements for Textiles & Footwear
A typical textile application uses the set below; our full documents required guide explains each item in more detail.
- Commercial invoice and packing list
- Product photographs showing the care and content label
- Fibre-composition and material specification
- HS code
- Test reports from an accredited laboratory (chemical and, where required, physical)
- Draft Arabic label for review
- Saudi importer registration details
How We Help
- Confirm classification and applicable regulation
We identify the product type, HS code and the exact requirements that apply.
- Review existing test reports
We check whether your reports cover the required chemical tests and identify any gaps.
- Coordinate testing and Arabic-label review
We arrange any required testing and confirm the Arabic care and content label meets requirements.
- Obtain the PCoC and process each SCoC
We coordinate the product certificate and process the shipment certificate for each consignment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do textiles and garments need a SABER certificate?
Yes. Textiles, garments, home textiles and footwear are regulated under the Technical Regulation for Textile Products. A PCoC must be registered and a per-shipment SCoC obtained before the goods can clear Saudi customs.
What does the Arabic label need to show?
Typically the fibre composition, country of origin and care instructions in Arabic, matching the certified product. We review your draft label as part of the process, because labelling issues are a common cause of customs delays.
Is chemical testing mandatory?
For most textile products, yes — azo dyes, formaldehyde and pH are core requirements, with colourfastness and composition checks where relevant. Existing accredited reports covering the exact material may be accepted. We confirm what applies at assessment.
How much does SABER textile certification cost and how long does it take?
Cost and timeline depend mainly on whether valid test reports already exist. When acceptable accredited reports are available, a PCoC can typically be arranged within a few working days; if fresh testing is needed, the laboratory turnaround is the main variable. See our SABER certificate cost guide, or send your product specification for a specific quote at no cost.
How long is a textile PCoC valid, and do I need a new SCoC for every shipment?
A Product Certificate of Conformity is typically valid for one year, so a single PCoC can cover multiple shipments of the same product during that period. An SCoC, however, is issued per consignment — every individual shipment needs its own Shipment Certificate before it can clear Saudi customs.
Which products and HS codes does this cover?
The same SABER route applies across fabrics and made-ups (HS chapters 50–63) and footwear (HS chapter 64). The precise HS code affects how the product is registered, so we confirm the correct classification and SASO requirements for your exact product during assessment.