How to Import Commercial Kitchen Equipment into Saudi Arabia 2026: Duties, VAT, SABER & SASO Certification Guide

Saudi Arabia is one of the fastest-growing markets in the world for commercial kitchen equipment. Vision 2030 has triggered a wave of new hotels, restaurants, cloud kitchens, and giga-project developments from Riyadh and Jeddah to NEOM and the Red Sea coast — and almost all of that equipment is imported. But Saudi Arabia also runs one of the region’s strictest product-conformity regimes, and a shipment that arrives without the right SABER and SASO paperwork can be held, fined, or refused at the port.

This 2026 guide walks through exactly how to import commercial kitchen equipment into Saudi Arabia: the customs duties and VAT you will pay, how the SABER and SASO conformity system works, the electrical standards your equipment must meet, the documents customs will demand, and a realistic step-by-step process and timeline from a Chinese factory to a Saudi port. Rates and figures below are indicative for 2026 — always confirm current tariffs with a licensed Saudi customs broker before you ship.

Can You Import Commercial Kitchen Equipment into Saudi Arabia?

Yes — Saudi Arabia imports the large majority of its foodservice equipment, and there is no general restriction on stainless-steel cooking, refrigeration, or ventilation equipment. The catch is conformity. Most electrical kitchen products fall under a Saudi technical regulation and must be registered on the SABER platform and covered by a SASO Certificate of Conformity before the goods clear customs. Skip that step and the equipment cannot legally enter, regardless of quality.

Saudi Customs Duties and VAT on Kitchen Equipment 2026

Two charges apply at import, both calculated on the CIF value (goods + insurance + freight):

• Customs duty — most commercial kitchen equipment is dutiable at 5% of CIF. Some categories sit at 0–15%; a few locally manufactured product types carry higher protective rates. Your HS code determines the exact figure, so classify each line correctly.
• VAT — Saudi Arabia applies 15% VAT, charged on the CIF value plus the customs duty.

As a worked example, a USD 80,000 CIF kitchen package at 5% duty incurs USD 4,000 duty, and 15% VAT is charged on USD 84,000 = USD 12,600, for about USD 16,600 in combined import charges. Build these into your landed-cost budget from the start rather than discovering them at the port.

SABER and SASO: The Conformity System Explained

Saudi conformity runs through two linked layers, and understanding them prevents the most common clearance delays:

• SASO (the Saudi Standards, Metrology and Quality Organization) sets the technical regulations and standards your product must meet.
• SABER is the online platform where conformity is registered. It issues two certificates: a Product Certificate of Conformity (PCoC), obtained once per product model through an approved Conformity Assessment Body, and a Shipment Certificate of Conformity (SCoC), issued for each consignment before it ships.

For electrical equipment, the PCoC typically relies on supporting test evidence such as an IECEE CB report and CE documentation, plus any applicable SASO energy-efficiency or safety regulation. The practical sequence is: register the product on SABER, secure the PCoC, then raise an SCoC against your invoice and packing list for the specific shipment. The SCoC number is what the customs system checks at arrival.

Indicative 2026 costs: a PCoC is usually a few hundred US dollars per product family per year, and an SCoC is roughly USD 100–300 per shipment. The exporter’s documentation quality drives the timeline here — when we ship to Saudi buyers, the CB/CE test reports, material certificates, and model data needed to raise the PCoC and SCoC are prepared as part of the order rather than chased afterward, which is where most first-time importers lose a week or two.

Electrical and Standards Requirements You Must Specify

Saudi Arabia runs on 60 Hz, not 50 Hz — the single most common and most expensive specification mistake importers make. Equipment is supplied at 230V single-phase and 400V three-phase, but the 60Hz frequency affects motors, compressors, and timers, so it must be specified to the factory before production. Refrigeration destined for the Kingdom should also use a high-ambient (T-class, rated around 43°C) compressor, because standard climate-class units lose capacity or fail in Saudi summer conditions. Specifying 60Hz, the correct voltage, and a hot-climate compressor at the order stage — rather than adapting equipment later — is straightforward custom fabrication and avoids costly rework at site.

Required Import Documents

Saudi customs (via the FASAH single-window platform) will expect a complete, consistent document set. Missing or mismatched paperwork is the leading cause of demurrage. Prepare:

• Commercial invoice (showing CIF value and HS codes)
• Packing list
• Bill of lading (or air waybill)
• Certificate of Origin
• SABER Shipment Certificate of Conformity (SCoC), backed by the product PCoC
• Insurance certificate
• Any product-specific test reports (IECEE CB, CE DoC, material/food-grade certificates)

Every document must agree on description, quantity, and value. A licensed Saudi customs broker files the declaration and is strongly recommended for first shipments.

Step-by-Step: Importing from a Chinese Factory to Saudi Arabia

1. Confirm the specification — equipment list, 60Hz/voltage, hot-climate refrigeration, and finishes. Get an FOB or CIF quotation.
2. Register conformity — the manufacturer/importer obtains the SABER PCoC for each model using CB/CE test evidence.
3. Production and QC — typically 25–45 days; inspect before shipment (in person or via a third-party agency such as SGS or Intertek).
4. Raise the SCoC — against the final commercial invoice and packing list for the consignment.
5. Ship — sea freight from Shenzhen/Ningbo to Jeddah Islamic Port, King Abdullah Port, or Dammam.
6. Clear customs — broker files via FASAH; pay 5% duty + 15% VAT; release and inland delivery.

Costs and Lead Times to Saudi Arabia 2026

Sea-freight transit from major Chinese ports to the Kingdom typically runs 18–28 days port-to-port, plus 1–2 weeks for conformity, customs, and inland delivery to Riyadh or the project site. For budgeting, FOB references for common items in 2026 are: a 10-tray combi oven (60Hz) USD 4,500–8,200; a hot-climate undercounter fridge USD 1,700–3,100; a pass-through dishwasher USD 3,500–6,200; and a complete 4–5 star hotel kitchen USD 65,000–120,000 FOB. Add CIF freight, 5% duty, and 15% VAT to reach landed cost.

Grace has supplied complete kitchens for hotel and restaurant projects in Riyadh, Jeddah, and the Eastern Province with full SABER/SASO documentation, so the conformity workflow above is handled alongside manufacturing rather than left to the buyer. When sourcing from China for a Saudi project, working with a manufacturer that already understands SABER and 60Hz configuration removes most of the import risk; for a vetted starting point, see our guide to the top commercial kitchen equipment manufacturers in China. And if you are equipping a full property rather than buying single units, see how a hotel kitchen turnkey project runs from design through commissioning.

Frequently Asked Questions

What certification is needed to import kitchen equipment into Saudi Arabia?

Most electrical kitchen equipment must be registered on the SABER platform with a Product Certificate of Conformity (PCoC) per model and a Shipment Certificate of Conformity (SCoC) per consignment, demonstrating compliance with the relevant SASO technical regulation. Supporting evidence usually includes an IECEE CB test report and CE documentation.

How much are customs duty and VAT on kitchen equipment in Saudi Arabia?

Most commercial kitchen equipment is dutiable at 5% of CIF value, and VAT is 15% charged on CIF plus duty. Some HS codes fall in the 0–15% range, so classify each item correctly. Confirm current rates with a licensed customs broker.

Does kitchen equipment for Saudi Arabia need to be 60Hz?

Yes. Saudi Arabia operates on 60Hz, supplied at 230V single-phase and 400V three-phase. The frequency affects motors, compressors, and timers, so 60Hz must be specified to the factory before production. Refrigeration should also use a high-ambient (T-class) compressor for the hot climate.

How long does shipping from China to Saudi Arabia take?

Sea freight from major Chinese ports to Jeddah, King Abdullah Port, or Dammam typically takes 18–28 days port-to-port, plus roughly 1–2 weeks for conformity, customs clearance, and inland delivery.

Which Saudi ports receive kitchen equipment shipments?

The main entry points are Jeddah Islamic Port and King Abdullah Port on the Red Sea (serving Jeddah, Makkah, Madinah, and central regions including Riyadh) and Dammam on the Gulf (serving the Eastern Province). Choose the port closest to your project to minimize inland transport.

Get a Quote

Importing equipment for a Saudi hotel, restaurant, or Vision 2030 project? Get a free quotation within 24 hours — project@gracekitchen.com or WhatsApp +86 158 1364 3427 — with FOB pricing, 60Hz configuration, and SABER/SASO documentation included.