Do I need a commercial registration to import into Saudi Arabia?

Yes. To clear goods commercially you need a Saudi commercial registration (CR), a VAT number, and an importer of record. Individual sellers typically partner with a fulfillment provider or import agent that can act on their behalf.

How much are customs duties when importing to KSA?

Duty rates depend on the HS code of your product — many consumer goods fall between 5% and 15%, and 15% VAT applies on the CIF value plus duty. Always confirm the exact rate for your HS code before pricing your product.

Is it cheaper to ship by air or sea from China to Saudi Arabia?

Sea freight is far cheaper per unit at volume but takes 25–45 days. Air freight costs more but delivers in under a week. A common strategy is air for the first batch, then sea for restocks.

Can Tejaraa receive goods directly from my Chinese supplier?

Yes. Your supplier can ship directly to the Tejaraa warehouse in Saudi Arabia, where we receive, inspect, label and store your stock, then deliver it to Amazon FBA or Noon FBN on your schedule.

Sourcing

How to Import Goods from China to Saudi Arabia (Step by Step)

From finding a factory in Guangzhou to delivering stock to Amazon.sa — the complete import process for Saudi e-commerce sellers, explained step by step.

Seller guide

Practical guidance for building and operating an e-commerce business in Saudi Arabia.

Updated Aug 20, 2026

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Step 1: Find and vet your supplier

Most Saudi sellers source on Alibaba, 1688 or Global Sources. The platform matters less than the vetting: check Trade Assurance status, years in business, verified badges, and always request the company business licence. A supplier that hesitates to share documentation is a supplier to avoid.

Order a paid sample before any bulk commitment. Test it against Saudi standards — many products need SASO-compliant test reports before they can legally clear customs, and it is far cheaper to discover a problem with one unit than with a container.

Confirm Trade Assurance and verified-supplier badges
Request business licence and factory audit reports
Order and test a paid sample first
Confirm SASO/IEC test report availability
Negotiate MOQ, price and lead time in writing
Use a contract or purchase order for every order

Step 2: Choose your shipping method

The right freight mode depends on your margin, urgency and order size. Many successful sellers air-freight the first batch to start selling quickly, then switch to sea freight once demand is proven.

Method	Transit time	Cost profile	Best for
Air freight	3–8 days	Highest per kg	Samples, launches, urgent restocks
Sea FCL	25–40 days	Lowest per unit at volume	Large single-supplier orders
Sea LCL	30–45 days	Pay only for space used	Medium orders below a full container

Step 3: Certification and customs clearance

Regulated products need a Product Certificate of Conformity (PCoC) via the SABER platform, plus a Shipment Certificate of Conformity (SCoC) for each shipment. Without these, goods cannot clear Saudi customs.

You also need a Saudi commercial registration, a VAT number, correct HS codes and Arabic labelling. Missing paperwork is the number-one cause of clearance delays at Jeddah and Dammam ports.

Step 4: Receive, prep and fulfil locally

Once goods land in KSA they need receiving, quality checks, marketplace-compliant labelling (Amazon FNSKU or Noon SKU) and storage until they are delivered to FBA or FBN. Tejaraa handles this entire local leg from one dashboard — you can even ship directly from your supplier to our warehouse.

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