Electrical Product Compliance in the Middle East: SASO, SABER, ESMA and Gulf Conformity Marks

If you import micro switches, circuit breakers or distribution equipment into the Middle East, certification is not optional — customs clearance depends on it. This guide summarizes the systems that matter most, in plain language.

Saudi Arabia: SASO and SABER

• SASO (Saudi Standards, Metrology and Quality Organization) sets the technical regulations.
• SABER is the online platform where importers register products and obtain certificates before shipment.

For electrical products, the typical path is:

1. The manufacturer’s product is tested against the applicable IEC/SASO standard (e.g. IEC 60947-2 for MCCBs).
2. The importer registers the product on SABER with test reports and factory information.
3. A Product Certificate of Conformity (PCoC) is issued — valid for one year.
4. Each shipment gets a Shipment Certificate (SC) linked to the PCoC.

Without a valid PCoC, your container will not clear customs in Saudi Arabia.

UAE: ESMA / ECAS

The UAE operates the ECAS (Emirates Conformity Assessment Scheme) under MoIAT (formerly ESMA). Electrical products need:

• ECAS registration based on CB test reports or equivalent
• The EQM (Emirates Quality Mark) for certain higher-risk product categories

Dubai and the northern emirates enforce these at customs. Working with a supplier that already holds Gulf-compliant test reports saves weeks of lead time.

The Gulf G-Mark

The G-Mark (GCC Technical Regulation for Low Voltage Electrical Equipment, BD-142004-01) allows one certificate to cover the whole GCC market — Saudi Arabia, UAE, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, Oman. If your volumes justify it, a G-Mark certificate is more efficient than country-by-country registration.

What This Means for Your Supplier Choice

When sourcing from any manufacturer, ask for:

1. IEC 60947-2 type test reports (for MCCBs) from an accredited lab
2. CE certificate with matching model numbers
3. Experience with SASO/SABER documentation (label requirements: Arabic marking, voltage/frequency, country of origin)
4. Willingness to support factory audits and witness testing

The Labeling Trap

Middle East authorities check labeling strictly. Typical requirements include:

• Manufacturer name and country of origin
• Rated voltage, current and breaking capacity
• Marking in Arabic (Saudi) or bilingual
• Certification mark and certificate number

We support our Middle East customers with SABER-compliant documentation packages, Arabic marking options on OEM orders, and type test reports for our NYM MCCB series. Ask about your market requirements →