Exporting from Kuwait to Saudi Arabia
The agreement that applies, the expected duty, and what each side asks for — for factories in Kuwait selling to buyers in Saudi Arabia.
Send a certificate of origin with the shipment to claim the preference.
VAT — Saudi Arabia: 15% VAT
GCC Customs Union
- Common external tariff: 5%
Most goods imported from outside the GCC pay 5% duty. About 417 basic items (foodstuffs, agricultural, medical and pharmaceutical goods) are exempt, and tobacco pays 100%.
Source ↗ - Single point of entry
Customs duty on foreign goods is collected once, at the first GCC point of entry. The goods can then move on to other member states without paying duty again.
Source ↗ - National product treatment
Goods produced in any GCC state move duty-free and are treated as national goods in all member states.
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Exceptions
- Free-zone goods (Saudi Arabia)
Saudi Arabia generally does not grant GCC origin to goods manufactured in, invoiced from or shipped from GCC free zones, so they may pay the 5% duty on entry. Goods must also be shipped directly from the producing GCC state.
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Greater Arab Free Trade Area (GAFTA / PAFTA)
- 0% customs duty
Arab-origin goods traded between members are fully exempt from customs duties and charges with equivalent effect, for both industrial and agricultural products.
Source ↗ - No non-tariff barriers, with set exceptions
Members may not apply non-tariff barriers to each other's goods, except for religious, health, security and environmental reasons. A few farm products can also be excluded temporarily during local harvest seasons (the agricultural calendar).
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Other agreements (not applied): TR–GCC FTA (Not in force yet)
⚠ Before you trade
- Rules change often
Saudi technical regulations, the customs tariff (12-digit HS codes since January 2025) and port rules change frequently. Check SABER and the ZATCA tariff for each product before every new order.
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Importing into Saudi Arabia
- Importer registration (CR + FASAH)
The importer needs a Saudi commercial registration and must register free of charge as an importer on ZATCA's FASAH platform. Foreign factories usually sell through a Saudi importer or distributor who holds these registrations.
Source ↗ - Product conformity: SABER (SASO)
Regulated products need a Product Certificate of Conformity on the SABER platform, issued by a SASO-approved body and valid one year per model, plus a Shipment Certificate for every shipment. High-risk products may also need a factory audit.
Source ↗ - Food, cosmetics and medical products: SFDA
Food, cosmetics, medicines and medical devices are controlled by the Saudi Food and Drug Authority, not SASO. The importer registers food products with SFDA before import, cosmetics are notified on SFDA's eCosma system, and the importer needs an SFDA-licensed warehouse.
Source ↗ - GCC G-mark for toys and low-voltage goods
Products covered by GCC technical regulations, starting with children's toys and low-voltage electrical equipment, must carry the GCC conformity mark (G-mark) issued under the GCC Standardization Organization (GSO) system.
Source ↗ - Documents and filing in FASAH
Basic documents are the commercial invoice, certificate of origin and bill of lading, plus product approvals where needed. Documents must be submitted in FASAH at least 48 hours before arrival. Since May 2025 containerised imports at Saudi ports must be palletised (phased in over 12 months).
Source ↗ - Arabic labelling and origin marking
Labels, warnings and instruction manuals must be in Arabic or Arabic and English. The country of origin must be printed or permanently marked on every product. Prepackaged food follows GSO 9 and needs production and expiry dates; meat and poultry need halal certificates.
Source ↗ - Banned and restricted goods
Banned: alcohol, pork products, narcotics, weapons, pornography, used or retreaded tyres and used clothing. Restricted (need prior approval): seeds and live animals, chemicals, medicines, wireless equipment, religious and media materials, and alcohol-based products such as perfume.
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