How do I export to Saudi Arabia?
The Middle East's largest economy rapidly transforming under Vision 2030 reforms. A strategic export guide for Saudi Arabia.
Key Summary
Saudi Arabia is the Middle East's largest economy with a GDP of approximately $1 trillion and the world's largest oil exporter. It is rapidly transitioning from an oil-dependent economy to a knowledge, technology, tourism, and entertainment-based economy through the 'Vision 2030' reform program announced in 2016. The young population of approximately 36 million (approximately 60% Saudi, approximately 40% foreign nationals) with a median age of approximately 30, combined with high smartphone penetration (90%+), continuously expands demand for imported consumer goods. Korea's exports to Saudi Arabia are approximately $3.5 billion annually, with automobiles, steel, electronics, and precision chemicals as major categories, along with active B2G project contracting in construction and infrastructure. Korea-GCC FTA negotiations have resumed, with tariffs expected to be significantly reduced upon conclusion from the current 5–12%. Korean company contracting opportunities are continuously being created in major infrastructure projects such as NEOM and the Red Sea Project.
Market Overview
Saudi Arabia is the Middle East's largest economy with a GDP of approximately $1 trillion and the world's largest oil exporter. It is rapidly transitioning from an oil-dependent economy to a knowledge, technology, tourism, and entertainment-based economy through the 'Vision 2030' reform program announced in 2016. The young population of approximately 36 million (approximately 60% Saudi, approximately 40% foreign nationals) with a median age of approximately 30, combined with high smartphone penetration (90%+), continuously expands demand for imported consumer goods. Korea's exports to Saudi Arabia are approximately $3.5 billion annually, with automobiles, steel, electronics, and precision chemicals as major categories, along with active B2G project contracting in construction and infrastructure. Korea-GCC FTA negotiations have resumed, with tariffs expected to be significantly reduced upon conclusion from the current 5–12%. Korean company contracting opportunities are continuously being created in major infrastructure projects such as NEOM and the Red Sea Project.
Market Characteristics
Despite Saudi Arabia's high per-capita GDP of approximately $27,000, its weak manufacturing base means most consumer goods depend on imports, creating very abundant export opportunities. Riyadh (capital/administrative center), Jeddah (western commercial hub/Islamic holy sites gateway), and Dammam (eastern oil industry center) are the three major economic hubs, with buyer characteristics and product demand varying by region. Following Vision 2030, women's social participation and consumer activity have greatly expanded, with beauty, fashion, entertainment, and sports-related consumption rapidly increasing. The e-commerce market is growing explosively (30%+ annually), with expanding online sales opportunities through platforms like Amazon.sa, Noon.com, and Salla. Islamic law (Sharia)-based social and cultural norms apply, requiring strict adherence to Islamic cultural taboos in product ingredients (alcohol, pork derivatives) and marketing imagery.
Regulatory & Certification (SASO/SABER)
The Saudi Standards, Metrology and Quality Organization (SASO) oversees technical standards and safety requirements for imported products, and conformity certification must be obtained through the SABER electronic system before import customs clearance. The SABER system—an electronic certification system operational since 2019—requires regulated products to obtain a Product Certificate (PC) from a SASO-approved Certification Body (CB) and register it in SABER, with a Shipment Certificate (SC) also required for each shipment. For food, separate registration with the Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) is required beyond Dubai Municipality standards, with halal certification also mandatory. Cosmetics require advance registration on the SFDA cosmetics registration portal, with ingredient safety data and Arabic labeling required. SABER certification costs range from hundreds to thousands of dollars per product depending on category and certification body, with domestic Korean authorized certification bodies (SGS Korea, Bureau Veritas Korea, TÜV Korea, etc.) providing agency services.
Business Culture
Saudi business culture highly values personal trust ('wasta'—the Arabic concept of connections and trust) and face, making it essential to build relationships through multiple meetings and meals before transactions. Decision-making authority is concentrated in senior management, so even after sufficient trust is built with operational staff, final decisions are often made by the CEO or owner. During Ramadan (Islamic calendar month 9, dates shift annually), business hours shift to nighttime and decision-making slows considerably, so important contracts and delivery schedules should be planned before or after Ramadan. Prayer times (5 times daily) are occasions when stores and offices temporarily close, and scheduling meetings to avoid prayer times is considerate. Preparing Arabic-language business cards and materials makes a positive impression regarding professionalism, and while handshakes are standard in first meetings with Saudi male businesspeople, physical contact with Saudi women should only occur when they initiate.
Buyer Discovery
Participating in major industry trade shows held at the Riyadh International Convention and Exhibition Center is effective for finding Saudi buyers: SAUDI BUILD (architecture/construction), SAUDI AGRO FOOD (food), SAUDI SIGN (digital/advertising), and LEAP (technology/startups). KOTRA's Riyadh trade office provides various support including specialized Saudi buyer matching, export consulting, and Korean pavilion operations. The Saudi Investment Authority (SAGIA/MISA) network can be used to discover project information and potential partners. The Saudi Chamber of Commerce (SCCI) member directory and Saudi Made program participant company database are also useful for potential buyer lists. To participate in Vision 2030 major projects (NEOM, Red Sea Project, Amara, etc.), directly applying through each project's official supplier registration portal or entering through local consortium partners is most practical.
Customs & Logistics
Saudi Arabia's major logistics infrastructure includes Jeddah Islamic Port (Middle East's largest port), King Abdulaziz Port in Dammam (Gulf's largest eastern port), Riyadh Dry Port, and King Khalid International Airport cargo terminal. Sea freight from Korea to Jeddah takes approximately 20–25 days, to Dammam approximately 22–27 days, with air freight from Incheon to Riyadh arriving in approximately 1–2 days. At customs, SABER certification (Shipment Certificate, SC) absence will result in customs rejection, so SABER SC must be issued before shipment. Import VAT (15%, raised from 3% in 2020) is assessed, with businesses able to apply for refunds after registering with ZATCA (Saudi Customs and Tax Authority). Saudi customs may slow during Ramadan, so important cargo should be planned to arrive 1–2 weeks before Ramadan starts.
Pricing & Payment
The Saudi Riyal (SAR) is fixed pegged to the US dollar (1 USD = 3.75 SAR), eliminating exchange rate risk and providing high price stability. L/C (letter of credit) is common in transactions with large Saudi companies and government agencies, while T/T (wire transfer) is mainly used with SME importers. Saudi buyers highly value price negotiation and often request 10–20% discounts from initial prices, so negotiation margins should be set in advance. Due to payment delay risks, strongly recommending K-SURE export insurance enrollment is advisable, particularly requesting advance payment (30–50%) from new buyers. Government project payments can take 30–90 days depending on contract terms, and including payment guarantees in contracts is important.
Marketing & Localization
Snapchat (Saudi Arabia's most popular social media), Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter (X) are key marketing channels in Saudi Arabia, with Saudi influencer collaborations being highly effective. Following Vision 2030, entertainment, sports, and tourism-related marketing is permitted, but Islamic cultural taboos (alcohol, exposure, religious disparagement, etc.) must be strictly observed. Arabic translation of product names, manuals, and packaging is mandatory, and writing marketing messages distinguishing between Standard Arabic (MSA) and Saudi dialects (Najdi dialect, etc.) raises localization quality. Vision 2030-linked marketing (Saudi localization contributions, Saudi youth employment, etc.) is a great advantage in government procurement and B2B sales. Simultaneously conveying Korea's technological capability and modernization image while delivering messages aligning with Saudi Islamic values and Vision 2030 vision is effective.
Vision 2030 & Korean Company Opportunities
Saudi Vision 2030 is a national transformation project cultivating six strategic sectors—tourism, entertainment, advanced manufacturing, renewable energy, and smart cities—from oil dependency, with over $500 billion in infrastructure investment planned. Practical contracting opportunities exist for Korean construction, IT, and smart city technology companies in major projects like NEOM smart city ($280 billion), Red Sea Tourism Project ($25 billion), and Diriyah Gate ($10 billion). Korean company supply opportunities in solar panels, energy storage systems (ESS), and smart grid sectors are increasing in line with Saudi Arabia's renewable energy 2030 target (50% of power generation from renewables). For Korean companies to participate in new city and industrial projects led by the Saudi sovereign wealth fund (PIF), securing local partnerships or establishing local entities for ICV (In-Country Value) is becoming increasingly important. Concrete support on major project information and participation methods can be received through KOTRA's 'Saudi Vision 2030 Korean Company Participation Program'.
Business Culture
Buyer Types
Saudi Major Conglomerate Procurement Departments
Procurement departments of Saudi major family business conglomerates like Al Ghanim Industries, Bin Laden Group, and Al-Marai Group that purchase a wide range of consumer and industrial goods in large volumes. Gaining senior management trust is key to closing deals, and once a partnership is formed, transactions can expand to the entire group. SABER certification, halal certification, Arabic labeling, and other regulatory requirement completeness plus local A/S service capability are required as key conditions.
Government Procurement / Public Institutions
Government agencies including the Saudi Ministry of Health (MOH), Ministry of Education (MOE), and Ministry of Defense, plus state-owned enterprise procurement managers at Saudi Aramco, SABIC, and PIF purchasing through large public tenders. Etimad (government procurement portal) registration, mandatory Saudi local partner (agent), ICV certification, and official document completeness (ISO, IQAMA, etc.) are bid participation conditions. Contract scale is large but payment is slow, making performance bond and advance trade finance procurement important.
Food/Halal Specialty Importers
Procurement managers at food wholesalers and supermarket chains (Al Dana Group, Panda Food, etc.) in Riyadh and Jeddah that only handle products with complete halal certification, SFDA registration, and Arabic labeling. They prefer large-volume, long-term supply contracts and often require stock preparation in advance for Ramadan season special demand. They use both price competitiveness and delivery reliability as core selection criteria, sometimes also requesting local delivery and warehouse management services.
Beauty/Fashion Distributors
Distributors in the rapidly growing post-Vision 2030 Saudi beauty and fashion market selling through retail chains like Al Othaim and Fair Price or online channels. High interest in K-Beauty, with SFDA cosmetics registration and halal certification (excluding alcohol and pork derivatives) as baseline conditions. They tend to request Snapchat and Instagram marketing support targeting young Saudi consumers and provision of Arabic product content.
Vision 2030 Project Procurement Companies
Procurement managers of international consortiums executing Vision 2030 major development projects (NEOM, Red Sea Project, King Salman Park, etc.) globally sourcing construction materials, IT infrastructure, smart city solutions, and renewable energy equipment. ICV contribution, international certifications (ISO/CE, etc.), and global references (similar project experience) are key selection criteria. Contract scale is large and delivery period is long, while without Saudi local partners, participating in bids is often difficult.
Logistics Information
Lead Time
Sea: 20–27 days, Air: 1–2 days
Est. Shipping Cost
Sea: $1,300–2,400/20ft, Air: $4–8/kg
Payment Methods
FTA/Trade Agreements
Frequently Asked Questions
A. SABER (Saudi Product Safety Program) is an electronic certification system verifying technical standard conformity for Saudi imported products in advance, operated through the saber.gov.sa portal. The Saudi-side importer must first register the product in the SABER portal, and the Korean exporter must obtain a Product Certificate (PC) from a SASO-recognized Certification Body (CB) and provide it to the importer. A Shipment Certificate (SC) must also be obtained for each shipment, without which Saudi customs clearance is impossible. In Korea, SGS Korea, Bureau Veritas Korea, TÜV SÜD Korea, and Korea Testing Laboratory (KTL) provide SABER-related certification agency services. Certification takes 1–3 months depending on product type, so starting preparations 6 months before planned export is recommended.
Find Saudi Arabia buyers on Rinda
AI analyzes Saudi Arabia market characteristics and automatically recommends optimal buyers. Also available with export vouchers.
Get Buyer Recommendations (Free)