Shipping car spare parts from Dubai to Saudi Arabia isn’t just a customs invoice and a truck. Since SASO’s SALEEM programme became fully mandatory, every shipment needs to clear through the SABER platform with the right certificate for the right part — and getting this wrong is one of the fastest ways to have a container held at the border, not released.
The Two Certificates You Actually Need
Auto parts entering Saudi Arabia go through a two-step certification process, not one:
- Product Certificate of Conformity (PCoC) — issued once per product or model, valid for one year, and renewable. This confirms the part itself meets SASO’s technical requirements.
- Shipment Certificate of Conformity (SCoC) — applied for before every individual shipment, submitted alongside the PCoC and your shipping documents. This is what actually clears customs, not the PCoC on its own.
A common, costly mistake: assuming a valid PCoC from a previous shipment is enough. It isn’t. Without a fresh SCoC for this specific shipment, customs has no basis to release it, regardless of how compliant the parts actually are.
Not Every Part Needs the Same Level of Certification
SASO splits auto parts into two practical categories, and mixing them up wastes time in both directions:
- Classified (critical/safety) parts — brakes, tyres, lights, batteries, and similar safety-relevant components. These require full PCoC certification against specific standards (brake components, for example, are assessed against SASO GSO ECE 90).
- Non-classified parts — lower-risk components that generally only need a Declaration of Conformity (DoC) rather than a full product certificate.
Assuming every part needs full PCoC certification slows down shipments that didn’t need it. Assuming a critical safety part only needs a DoC is what actually gets cargo held.
Used and Refurbished Parts: A Near-Total Ban, With One Exception
This surprises a lot of first-time shippers: Saudi Arabia prohibits importing used, refurbished, or expired auto parts almost entirely. The exception is major components — vehicle bodies/chassis, gearboxes, and differentials — and even these have conditions attached: they must be clean, free of grease and oil, clearly labelled as refurbished, and accompanied by a valid Declaration of Conformity. A refurbished part shipped without that labelling is treated as an undeclared used part, not a compliant one.
Packaging and Labelling That Customs Actually Checks
- Arabic labelling is required on the product itself, not just the outer carton
- Country of origin must be marked on each item and printed on the box — engraved or affixed with a non-removable sticker
- Packaging materials cannot contain asbestos, lead, or other hazardous heavy metals, and any plastic packaging must meet Saudi’s degradable plastics regulation
What Actually Happens If This Isn’t in Order
Undocumented or incorrectly certified shipments don’t just get rejected outright — customs can issue a hold letter giving the shipper roughly 90 days to produce the correct documentation, with a fine (historically around 2,000 SAR) if it isn’t resolved in that window. In practice, this means a shipment can sit for months, not hours, if certification wasn’t sorted before departure. For the broader picture of what causes border delays generally, see our guide on why trucks actually get stuck at the border.
How We Handle This on the Road
We check SABER certification status against the actual parts loaded — not just against the invoice — before a truck leaves Dubai, the same consistency check we apply to every shipment on our Dubai to Saudi Arabia route. Spare parts shipments typically move as FTL for full container loads or LTL for smaller consignments consolidated with other cargo. See our full GCC documentation checklist for what we check on every route.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use one PCoC for multiple shipments?
The PCoC itself is valid for a year and can cover the same product across shipments, but you still need a fresh SCoC applied for before each individual shipment — the PCoC alone does not clear customs.
Do all spare parts need full certification through SABER?
No. Classified, safety-critical parts (brakes, tyres, lights, batteries) need full PCoC certification. Many non-classified parts only require a Declaration of Conformity, which is a lighter process.
Can I ship used car parts to Saudi Arabia at all?
Generally no, with a narrow exception for major components like chassis, gearboxes, and differentials — and only if they’re clean, clearly labelled as refurbished, and accompanied by a valid Declaration of Conformity.
What happens if my shipment arrives without the right certificate?
Saudi customs can issue a hold letter with a window (historically around 90 days) to produce correct documentation, with a fine applied if it isn’t resolved in time — meaning a shipment can be delayed for months rather than hours.
You can check certification requirements and register products directly through the SABER platform.