Customs Clearance in Saudi Arabia: Documents, Duties and Causes of Delay

Customs clearance is the stage where earlier mistakes turn into a daily cost. Every day of delay means storage and container detention charges. The good news: most delays are caused by paperwork, and paperwork can be prepared in advance.

Core documents

• Commercial Invoice: with a true value matching the bank transfer.
• Packing List: number of packages, weight, dimensions.
• Transport document: Bill of Lading for sea, Air Waybill for air.
• Certificate of Origin: attested as required.
• SABER conformity certificate: shipment certificate for that specific consignment.
• Additional approvals: depending on product type (SFDA, CST and others).

How is the cost calculated?

Customs duty is calculated on the customs value (goods value + freight + insurance to the port), at a rate that varies by the product's HS code. VAT is then calculated on the total (value + customs duty).

A common mistake: choosing a lower-rate HS code "to save duty". That is misclassification, exposing you to fines and liability, and it can hold up your future shipments.

Five main causes of delay

1. A missing conformity certificate or one issued after arrival.
2. Data conflicts: weight or package count differing between invoice, packing list and bill of lading.
3. Non-compliant labelling: missing Arabic data or missing country of origin.
4. Vague goods description: "spare parts" or "assorted goods" triggers inspection.
5. Incorrect customs classification leading to reassessment.

What are demurrage and detention?

• Storage / demurrage: charges for goods sitting inside the port after the free period ends.
• Detention: charges for keeping the container outside the port beyond the allowed period.

These accumulate daily and quickly, and are the leading reason a profitable deal turns into a loss.

How to shorten clearance time

• Prepare complete documentation before the shipment arrives, not after.
• Check that the figures match across all documents yourself — a small discrepancy costs days.
• Determine the correct HS code from the outset and stay consistent across shipments.
• Ask the factory for final label photos before production so you can approve them.
• Work with a licensed customs broker experienced specifically in your product category.