SABER DESKSaber Desk · Free article
Importing mobile phones and tablets into Saudi Arabia: the 2026 path, and what SASO 3114 changes on 1 November
The short answer
To import mobile phones or tablets into Saudi Arabia, the system enforces this order:
- CST type approval for the device — it has a radio.
- IECEE recognition via SASO's JEEM platform, where your product category requires it.
- A technical file with test reports to IEC 62368-1 (IEC 60950-1 reports are no longer accepted) and the RoHS documentation.
- SABER: product registration, a Certification Body, then the Product Certificate of Conformity (PCoC) for each model.
- A Shipment Certificate of Conformity (SCoC) for every shipment, issued before the goods arrive.
Two 2025–2026 changes sit on top. Since 1 January 2025, phones and tablets must use a USB Type-C charging port (the first mandatory phase announced by CST and SASO). And from 1 November 2026, no certificate of conformity is issued for a phone or tablet unless it meets SASO 3114:2026; certificates issued under the old standard, SASO CITC GEN-002, are discontinued by 31 March 2027 at the latest.
The path, step by step
| Step | What it is | Timing | Where |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | CST type approval | About 3–4 weeks in practice. Validity is typically 1–2 years depending on device category — confirm the term at application | cst.gov.sa |
| 2 | IECEE recognition via JEEM, where required. Phones and tablets are on the in-scope lists commonly cited by certification bodies — confirm the current scope for your HS code on JEEM | Officially up to 15 working days (SASO's service page lists 5); apply for renewal 60 days before expiry | jeem1.saso.gov.sa |
| 3 | Test reports to IEC 62368-1 and the RoHS file (IEC 63000) | Where new tests are needed, lab testing typically takes 2–4 weeks; there is no official figure | Your lab |
| 4 | PCoC — one per model and importer, valid 1 year, 500 SAR + VAT | Officially 5–6 working days once compliant test reports exist; commonly 10–14 in practice | saber.sa |
| 5 | SCoC — one per shipment; valid 90 days (SASO, 15 Sep 2026); 350 SAR + VAT | Officially 1–2 working days | saber.sa |
Starting from zero, with steps 1–3 run in parallel, a wireless product realistically takes 7–12 weeks end to end — 6–10 weeks on official service times alone.
What SASO 3114:2026 changes for phones and tablets
SASO's standards store, Wasif, lists six categories for SASO 3114:2026. Two are "Mobile Phones" and "Tablets and Mobile Computers"; a third, "Other Cellular-enabled Devices", is a broad description that sits in the same list.
- New certificates. From 1 November 2026, a covered model gets a certificate of conformity only if it meets SASO 3114:2026. A test report that satisfied GEN-002 may not be enough — ask your lab for a gap check against the new standard.
- Existing certificates. A PCoC or SCoC issued under GEN-002 is discontinued by 31 March 2027 at the latest, even if it shows a later expiry. Plan re-certification so that no shipment after March 2027 depends on one.
- Laptops. The record does not define "Tablets and Mobile Computers", so whether a laptop is covered is a classification question for your Certification Body.
| When | What happens |
|---|---|
| Now → 31 October 2026 | Grace period: confirm scope with your CB, gap-check test reports, book re-testing |
| From 1 November 2026 | New certificates for covered phones and tablets only under SASO 3114:2026 |
| By 31 March 2027 | GEN-002 certificates of conformity and shipment certificates discontinued |
USB Type-C: two dates, two different notices
- 1 January 2025 — CST and SASO, first mandatory phase. Mobile phones, tablets, digital cameras, e-readers, portable video-game consoles, headphones, earphones, portable and amplified speakers, keyboards, computer mice, portable navigation systems and wireless routers must use USB Type-C. Laptops follow from 1 April 2026.
- 1 May 2026 — SABER starts applying the decision to an accessory list (digital cameras, e-readers, speakers, keyboards, computer mice, portable navigation systems and wireless routers), checking SASO IEC 62680-1-2:2023 and SASO IEC 62680-1-3:2023. Phones and tablets are not on that SABER list; for them, the reference is the phase that started on 1 January 2025.
What does not change
- The sequence above: CST, IECEE where required, then the PCoC per model and the SCoC per shipment.
- The SCoC stays valid for 90 days (SASO, 15 Sep 2026); SABER’s card for products not intended for display to consumers still shows 60 days.
- An SCoC can only be issued while the model's PCoC is valid at that moment — renew the PCoC about 30 days before expiry.
Frequently asked questions
Is my phone's current certificate still valid after 1 November 2026?
If it was issued under GEN-002, yes — until 31 March 2027 at the latest. No new certificate can be issued for a covered phone after 1 November unless it meets SASO 3114:2026.
Do I need a new PCoC for every shipment?
No. The PCoC is issued per model and per importer and is valid for one year; certification bodies describe it as usable for repeat shipments of the same model by the same importer within that year. Every shipment still needs its own SCoC.
How long does it take to bring a new phone model in from zero?
Realistically 7–12 weeks with the prerequisites run in parallel. If compliant test reports and CST approval already exist, the two SABER certificate steps take about 6–8 working days of official service time.
Does SASO 3114 cover tablets with a SIM slot and cellular IoT devices?
Tablets are a listed category and so are "Other Cellular-enabled Devices", but the record gives categories without definitions — confirm a specific model with your Certification Body.
Sources: SABER circular updateStandardSpecification.pdf (saber.sa; read 28 Sep and again 4 Oct 2026; md5 d41e7bc3…, PDF created 21 May 2026) · SASO standards store (Wasif), record SASO-3114 — read 28 Sep 2026 · CST news, 23 October 2024 — “CST and SASO Announced that the First Mandatory Phase of the Unified Charging Ports…” (cst.gov.sa; read 28 Sep, 4 Oct and 11 Oct 2026) · SABER circular unify-shipping-outlets.pdf (saber.sa; md5 b197053c…, created 12 Mar 2026) · SABER service cards for the product and shipment certificates (saber.sa; read 26 Sep 2026) · SASO news, 15 September 2026, on the 90-day SCoC validity — saso.gov.sa (in Arabic); read 12 Oct 2026 · CST, Regulations for Licensing of Telecommunications and Information Technology Equipment (cst.gov.sa; decision dated 08/02/2024).
Go deeper, in both languages
The free sample covers the prerequisite stack, PCoC basics and 3 of the 7 traps — one English PDF and one Arabic PDF. The full Compliance Guide has the whole enforced path, every fee and timeline, all 7 traps with fixes, the invoice-matching checklist and a first-year budget worksheet.
Saber Desk is an independent reference — not a certification body, and not affiliated with SASO. We do not issue certificates. Fees and processing times are the official figures published on saber.sa unless marked as observed practice; confirm HS codes and required standards for a specific shipment with your Certification Body. Edition: October 2026.