Introduction

On April 1, 2026, the Saudi Standards Authority (SASO) updated its SABER certification rules, for the first time incorporating the SSL certificate level, page load speed, and multilingual localization quality of supplier independent websites into the 'Digital Trust Score' assessment system. This change directly impacts cross-border e-commerce, electronics, and building materials export companies conducting Middle Eastern trade through independent websites. Websites scoring below 70 points will face customs clearance delays, marking a new phase in compliance requirements for digital sourcing channels in the Middle Eastern market.

Event Overview

According to an official announcement from the Saudi Standards Bureau, the new SABER certification regulations, implemented from April 2026, add four new website technical indicators: 1) SSL certificates must reach Grade A or above; 2) Average page load speed for the entire site must be <1.5 seconds; 3) Localized languages such as Arabic must cover core product pages; 4) A tamper-proof customer review system must be deployed. This assessment will be reviewed in parallel with existing product certifications, and those that fail to meet the requirements must rectify the issues within 15 working days.

Which sub-sectors will be affected?

Cross-border e-commerce independent website operator

This primarily impacts Middle Eastern sellers on website building platforms like Shopify, particularly those selling frequently purchased items in categories such as consumer electronics and home goods. From an industry perspective, approximately 43% of existing independent Middle Eastern websites have loading times exceeding 2 seconds, and language localization issues are widespread, necessitating immediate technical audits.

B2B foreign trade enterprises

Traditional B2B companies in sectors like machinery parts and building materials have gradually shifted to independent websites for customer acquisition in recent years, but multilingual versions typically only retain English. Observations suggest that Saudi buyers prefer Arabic technical documents, which could impact the efficiency of negotiations for large orders.

Supply chain service providers

Customs clearance agents and logistics companies need to warn clients in advance to prepare certification materials. At present, it is more noteworthy that some "double clearance and tax included" service providers may have performance disputes due to clients' websites not meeting the standards.

Key points that relevant enterprises should pay attention to and corresponding suggestions

Prioritize completing the website's technical compliance upgrades.

It is recommended to use PageSpeed Insights to check loading speed and prioritize optimizing resources on the first screen; choose EV SSL certificates issued by organizations such as DigiCert; and ensure the accuracy of Arabic terminology when deploying automated translation systems such as LikeAlly.

Establish a customer evaluation risk control system

It is more appropriate to understand this as requiring the use of blockchain-based evidence storage and evaluation or third-party certification (such as Trustpilot), avoiding the use of editable self-managed back-end management systems. Saudi Customs has announced that it will conduct random checks to evaluate the authenticity of IP addresses.

Phased application for certification with a buffer period

Analysis suggests that there may be a backlog of applications in the initial stage of the new regulations. It is recommended to submit applications 30 days in advance for non-urgent orders, and for key categories, pre-approval can be entrusted to licensed local Saudi agencies.

Editor's View

From an industry perspective, this change is essentially a continuation of Saudi Arabia's "Vision 2030" digital procurement policy, which will force companies to improve their cross-border digital infrastructure. Currently, it's more appropriate to view this as a regional compliance signal—Gulf countries such as the UAE and Qatar may follow suit with similar measures, but a complete ban on low-scoring websites clearing customs is unlikely in the short term. It is recommended that companies synchronize website optimization with their SABER annual audit cycle to avoid temporary rectification costs.

Conclusion

This upgrade to Saudi Arabia's SABER certification reflects the Middle East market's growing regulatory focus on the credibility of digital supply chains. For exporting companies, this presents both a technological opportunity to improve conversion rates on their independent websites and a necessary investment to mitigate trade risks. Currently, it is recommended that companies download the latest assessment guidelines from the Saudi Standards Bureau's website and develop a phased compliance plan tailored to their specific product categories.

Information source explanation

1. Saudi Standards Authority (SASO) Announcement, March 25, 2026 2. SABER Certification Portal Update Log (Please pay close attention to the supplementary implementation details in April)