By Adil Ahmad, Business Setup Consultant at Gulf Corporate Services
Summary
To get food import approval in Saudi Arabia, you need a Saudi company with food trading on its commercial registration, an SFDA account with your establishment and products registered, a licensed food warehouse unless you qualify for the small importer exemption, and compliant Arabic labels. Each shipment is then cleared through Fasah with health, halal, and origin certificates. Compliant consignments are usually released the same day.
Food Import Approval in Saudi Arabia at a Glance
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Food regulator | Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) |
| Customs | Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority (ZATCA) |
| Registration platforms | SFDA e-services and GHAD for establishments and products |
| Shipment clearance | Fasah, with documents submitted electronically |
| Warehouse | SFDA-licensed food warehouse, unless exempt |
| Small importer exemption | Up to 5 shipments a year, totalling 2,000 kg or less |
| Key certificates | Health, halal, origin, and, for some countries, a Certificate of Conformity |
| Tax at import | 15% VAT plus customs duty where applicable |
Who Regulates Food Imports in Saudi Arabia?
Three bodies matter most:
- SFDA: sets food safety rules, registers importers and products, inspects shipments at border points, and decides whether food can enter
- ZATCA: classifies goods, collects customs duty and import VAT, and releases cleared shipments
- Ministry of Commerce and the Saudi Business Center: issue the commercial registration that allows food trading
A common confusion: SABER, run by SASO, mainly covers non-food consumer and industrial products. Food itself follows SFDA’s system, although packaging, machinery, or appliances you import alongside it may need SABER certificates.
Who Can Import Food Into Saudi Arabia?
Only a company registered in Saudi Arabia with a food trade activity on its commercial registration can act as the importer of record. That leaves three practical routes:
- Your own Saudi company: Saudi and GCC owners can register directly. Foreign investors need MISA registration first, and 100% foreign-owned trading companies face strict MISA conditions, including high minimum capital for wholesale and retail trade.
- A Saudi distributor: the distributor holds the registrations and imports on your behalf. This is the fastest route for most foreign brands.
- A joint venture with a Saudi partner who meets the licensing requirements.
If you choose a distributor, check that they hold an SFDA-licensed warehouse with the right temperature zones, that product registrations will be in a name you can transfer later, and that the contract covers recalls and label approvals. In my experience, unclear ownership of registrations is the biggest source of disputes when a brand later sets up its own company.
Read our guides to MISA registration in Saudi Arabia, LLC company formation in Saudi Arabia, and the commercial license in Saudi Arabia to choose your structure.
Licences and Registrations You Need Before Importing
- Commercial registration (CR) with food trading, issued through the Saudi Business Center
- SFDA e-account and establishment registration as a local importer, with your CR and an authorisation letter
- Product registration for every food item you plan to import
- SFDA warehouse licence for your storage site, unless you qualify for the small importer exemption
- Municipal (Balady) licence and Civil Defence approval for the warehouse; see our guide to civil defence and safety regulations in Saudi Arabia
- ZATCA registration for VAT and customs, plus a customs broker if you do not clear goods yourself
- Foreign supplier listing: the exporting factory must appear on SFDA’s list of establishments approved to export to the Kingdom
SFDA Product Registration and Arabic Labelling Rules
Every product must meet the approved Gulf and SFDA technical regulations. According to SFDA’s conditions for clearing imported food, the key standards include:
- GSO 9 labelling: labels must be in Arabic, and any other language on the label must match the Arabic text
- SFDA.FD/GSO 150-1: expiry date rules, with expiry dates and batch numbers shown on the invoice
- SFDA.FD/GSO 2500: permitted food additives
- SFDA.FD/GSO 2055-1: halal food requirements
Practical labelling checklist:
- Product name, ingredients, allergens, and net quantity in Arabic
- Production and expiry dates in the approved format
- Country of origin and importer details
- Nutrition information where required
- No halal, organic, or health claims without proof
Raw materials for manufacturing can be exempt from Arabic labelling if you submit an English label commitment through Fasah.
Halal and Health Certificate Requirements
- Health certificate: issued by the competent authority in the country of origin. It is required for many categories, including meat, poultry, fish, eggs, honey, and dairy.
- Phytosanitary certificate: for grains, crops, and fresh fruit and vegetables.
- Halal certificate: for products that require one or carry a halal claim, issued by a body recognised by the Saudi Halal Center.
- Halal slaughter certificate: mandatory for meat, poultry, and raw gelatine.
- Import permit: needed for poultry, fish and aquatic products, and table eggs.
How to Get Food Import Approval in Saudi Arabia: Step-by-Step
- Choose your import route: your own company, a distributor, or a joint venture.
- Register your company with a food trading activity on the CR.
- Create your SFDA e-account and register as a local importer.
- Confirm your supplier is on SFDA’s approved foreign establishment list.
- Register each product with SFDA and upload label artwork and specifications.
- License your warehouse with SFDA, the municipality, and Civil Defence, or confirm you qualify for the exemption.
- Prepare certificates for the first shipment: health, halal, origin, and a Certificate of Conformity where required.
- Ship and submit the clearance request through Fasah with all documents.
- Pass border inspection: document check, identity check, physical check, and lab sampling if needed.
- Pay duty and VAT and collect the released goods.
For the wider import process, read our guide to importing goods into Saudi Arabia.
Customs Clearance and Required Shipping Documents
Clearance documents are submitted electronically through Fasah. Typical requirements:
- Commercial invoice, certified where requested, with expiry dates and batch numbers
- Bill of lading or air waybill
- Certificate of origin
- Health certificate and phytosanitary certificate, where applicable
- Halal or halal slaughter certificate, where applicable
- Certificate of Conformity, mandatory for shipments from certain countries
Since 24 August 2025, Certificates of Conformity for food are issued through SFDA’s digital clearance platform, and they are mandatory for selected products from countries such as Egypt, Jordan, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Somalia, and India, according to SGS. Keep original clearance documents for 5 years.
SFDA Food Import Approval Cost in Saudi Arabia
| Cost item | Indicative cost (SAR) |
|---|---|
| Company formation and CR | Varies by structure; much higher for foreign owners |
| SFDA warehouse licence (1 year) | (Land area in m² x 0.60) + 1,000, plus VAT |
| Standard food product registration | Often low or no SFDA fee for simple foods |
| Special foods and dietary supplements | About 5,000 per product |
| Laboratory testing | Paid by the importer, per sample |
| Certificate of Conformity | Set by the inspection company |
| Customs duty | Often 0% to 5% for many foods, higher for some items |
| Import VAT | 15% of the customs value plus duty |
The warehouse formula and special foods fee are reported by Motaded, so confirm current amounts with SFDA. For company costs, see the cost of setting up a business in Saudi Arabia, and check duty and VAT with ZATCA.
How Long Does SFDA Food Import Approval Take?
- Company setup: a few weeks for Saudi owners, often 2 to 3 months for foreign owners
- SFDA account and product registration: usually a few weeks, depending on how many products you register
- Warehouse licensing: depends on fit-out, municipal, and Civil Defence approvals
- Each shipment: compliant consignments are released the same day at the border, while lab testing adds time
Most first-time importers should plan for about 2 to 4 months before the first container clears.
Prohibited and Restricted Food Items in Saudi Arabia
- Pork and pork derivatives
- Alcohol and products containing alcohol
- Meat and poultry without halal slaughter certification
- Genetically modified foods that are unlabelled or not approved
- Products from countries or plants under SFDA import bans
- Novel foods without SFDA approval
Bans change with disease outbreaks, so check SFDA notices before every new supplier.
Common Reasons Food Shipments Get Rejected
- Arabic label missing, incomplete, or different from the English text
- Supplier not on the approved establishment list
- Missing or wrong health or halal certificates
- Product not registered with SFDA before shipping
- Expiry dates or batch numbers missing from the invoice
- Lab results showing additives or residues above limits
Expert tip from Adil Ahmad: send one sample carton with your final labels before the first full container. A label rejection on a sample costs a few hundred riyals; on a full container, it can cost the whole shipment.
Turning Food Imports Into a Saudi Business
Many importers go on to supply supermarkets, restaurants, and cloud kitchens. Explore our guides to starting an export and import business in Saudi Arabia, opening a grocery store, opening a bakery or cafe, starting a cloud kitchen, and food and beverage ventures in Saudi Arabia.
FAQs on Food Import Approval in Saudi Arabia
Who approves food imports in Saudi Arabia?
The Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) approves food, and ZATCA handles customs release.
Do I need to register food products with SFDA before importing?
Yes. Register your establishment and each product before shipping.
Can a foreign company import food directly into Saudi Arabia?
Not without a Saudi entity. Most foreign brands use a Saudi distributor or set up a company through MISA.
Is SABER required for food products?
Generally no. Food follows SFDA requirements, while SABER mainly covers SASO-regulated non-food products.
Is halal certification mandatory?
It is mandatory for meat, poultry, and gelatine, and for any product that requires it or claims to be halal.
Do I need a warehouse to import food?
Usually yes, an SFDA-licensed warehouse. Small importers with up to 5 shipments and 2,000 kg a year can be exempt.
How much does it cost to import food into Saudi Arabia?
Government fees are modest for simple foods, but budget for company setup, warehouse licensing, lab tests, duty, and 15% import VAT.
How long does SFDA clearance take at the port?
Compliant consignments are usually released the same day. Lab testing can add several days.
Start Importing Food Into Saudi Arabia
Our team handles company formation, SFDA registrations, warehouse licensing, and GRO services in Saudi Arabia. Explore our business setup in Saudi Arabia services, or our business setup in Dubai if you trade from the UAE. Speak with our business setup consultants for a free import plan.
