SABER and SALEEM: Conformity of Fire Safety Products in Saudi Arabia
The Saudi Standards, Metrology and Quality Organization (SASO) requires products sold in Saudi Arabia to be registered on SABER, the electronic platform of the Saudi Product Safety Program (SALEEM). Fire control equipment and materials, such as extinguishers, fire pumps, hoses and extinguishing agents, are covered by a technical regulation, so they need a certificate of conformity from SASO or a SASO-accepted conformity assessment body; a supplier self-declaration is not enough.
How SABER certificates work
| Stage | What is required |
|---|---|
| Product certificate of conformity | Registered for each product or model on the platform and issued by SASO or an accepted conformity assessment body; it shows its issue and expiry dates |
| Shipment certificate | Issued for every consignment before shipping, once approved by the body that issued the product certificate; valid for 90 days |
| Customs clearance | SABER is linked electronically to the Fasah customs platform, and a shipment without the required certificates may be re-exported |
| Products with no technical regulation | Registered on the platform with a supplier self-declaration |
What the fire control regulation covers
The Technical Regulation for Fire Control Materials and Equipment, applied at ports and factories since 1 May 2020 and in the market since 31 October 2020, covers fire extinguishing equipment and devices, fire pumps, extinguishing agents, and their parts and fittings. The regulation text excludes fire alarm and firefighting systems, which fall under the Saudi Fire Protection Code (SBC 801), but SASO’s guide to the regulation excludes only fire alarm systems and lists fixed extinguishing systems among covered products, so confirm each product’s status with the conformity assessment body before import.
Personal protective equipment and clothing are covered by a separate SASO technical regulation that requires a certificate of conformity from a SASO-accepted conformity assessment body; a self-declaration is not enough.
Product conformity is not system approval
A SABER certificate covers the product itself; it does not mean the installed system complies. The design and installation of fire alarm and firefighting systems fall under the Saudi Fire Protection Code, while the General Directorate of Civil Defense handles facility safety licensing through the Salamah platform. A project therefore needs both: conforming products, and a system designed and installed to the code.
Practical steps for buyers and contractors
- Ask the supplier for the SABER product certificate details for the exact model, and check that it is valid.
- For imported consignments, make sure the shipment certificate is issued before shipping to avoid re-export.
- Keep the conformity certificates in the project file, alongside international approvals such as UL or FM where the project specification requires them.
See also UL Listed vs FM Approved and our SBC 801 Saudi Fire Protection Code guide.
Need fire protection equipment supplied for your project? AZEIDK provides technical selection of systems and equipment and technical supply, taking each project’s conformity and approval requirements into account. Contact the AZEIDK team
