Exporting from the UK to Saudi Arabia: What British Businesses Need to Know

Why Saudi Arabia Is Gaining Momentum for UK Exporters

Saudi Arabia’s economic transformation under Vision 2030 is not theoretical—it is being actively funded and executed. Large-scale investment programmes are reshaping sectors such as retail, infrastructure, construction, consumer goods, healthcare, technology, and manufacturing.

A key driver of this activity is the Public Investment Fund (PIF), which is investing heavily across domestic projects and international partnerships. This has created sustained demand for imported products, equipment, and materials.

UK products are generally well regarded in the Saudi market. British exporters benefit from a reputation for quality, safety, and regulatory discipline—particularly in consumer products, electrical goods, cosmetics, food and drink, and specialist industrial items.

A Major Change: 100% Foreign Ownership Is Now Possible

Until relatively recently, foreign companies entering Saudi Arabia were required to operate through a Saudi partner, often with limited control over the business. For many UK exporters, this structure was a deterrent. That position has changed.

Saudi Arabia now permits 100% foreign ownership in many sectors. This is a significant structural shift and one of the reasons the market feels fundamentally different today. British companies can now:

• Establish their own Saudi entities

• Retain full ownership and control

• Act as their own importer of record

For exporters looking beyond ad-hoc shipments and towards long-term regional growth, this reform alone makes Saudi Arabia a far more viable proposition than it was even a few years ago.

Selling In The Saudi Market

While ownership rules have liberalised, one core requirement remains unchanged: you cannot import products into Saudi Arabia without a Saudi importer.

To clear goods through Saudi customs and complete product compliance:

• The importer must hold a Saudi Commercial Registration (CR)

• Products must be registered under that CR on the SABER platform

• The importer is legally responsible for the product in the Saudi market

In practical terms, UK exporters must decide whether to:

• Work with an established Saudi distributor/franchisee/importer, or

• Set up their own Saudi entity and import directly

This decision has commercial, operational, and compliance implications and should be made early.

Product Compliance and SABER

Saudi Arabia operates a structured conformity assessment system overseen by SASO. Most regulated products must be registered on the SABER platform before shipment.

Key points exporters should be aware of:

• Products must comply with applicable Saudi Technical Regulations

• Certification must be issued by an approved conformity assessment body

• SABER certification must be completed before goods are shipped, not after arrival

Shipments arriving without valid certification are routinely delayed or rejected.

Where UK Exporters Commonly Run into Problems

• No importer in place: without a Saudi CR, products cannot be registered or cleared

• Assuming UK compliance is sufficient: standards are aligned in places, but not identical

• Leaving certification too late: SABER is not a customs formality; it is a pre-shipment requirement

Most issues arise not from complexity, but from timing and assumptions.

How SANTIQ Supports British Exporters

SANTIQ works with UK exporters at every stage of their Saudi market entry, including:

• Identifying applicable Saudi technical regulations

• Checking existing documentation against the Saudi requirements, and if necessary, testing with accredited laboratories

• Managing product certification end-to-end

• Advising on importer structure and market-entry approach

• Ongoing support for renewals and regulatory changes

The objective is simple: reduce friction, avoid delays, and allow exporters to enter the Saudi market with confidence.

Saudi Arabia is no longer a market that only works for those with the “right local partner”. With ownership reforms, sustained government investment, and strong demand for British products, it has become a serious opportunity for British exporters who approach it properly.

If you are exporting to Saudi Arabia, or considering whether now is the right time, SANTIQ can help you structure compliance and market-entry in a way that works commercially as well as regulatorily.