GCC market access market-access pack.
Market-access pack for exporters of food, beverages, textiles, apparel and consumer goods to Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and the other Gulf Cooperation Council states. It covers the GSO technical regulations and standards (food labelling, shelf life, halal, textile and product safety), the Saudi Food and Drug Authority's import, registration and labelling rules, SASO conformity through the SABER platform and the Saudi Quality Mark, the UAE's MoIAT conformity schemes (ECAS, EQM, the UAE halal national mark) and Dubai Municipality food import controls, the GCC conformity mark, halal certification by GAC- and MoIAT-recognised bodies, and GCC customs documentation.
Frameworks and regulations.
| Instrument | Applies to | Requirements | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| GSO food labelling, shelf life and nutrition standards GCC Standardization Organization · GSO 9 (labelling of prepackaged foodstuffs); GSO 150-1/150-2 (expiration periods); GSO 2233 (nutritional labelling); GSO 2333 (allergens); GSO 1016 (microbiological criteria); GSO 1863 (packaging) | Food and beverage manufacturers, Exporters | 9 | Being confirmed |
| GSO halal standards and GAC halal accreditation GCC Standardization Organization; GCC Accreditation Center · GSO 2055-1 (halal food — general requirements); GSO 2055-2 (halal certification bodies); GSO 993 (animal slaughter); GSO 2055-4 (halal cosmetics) as applicable | Food and beverage manufacturers, Exporters | 5 | Being confirmed |
| SFDA food import requirements Saudi Food and Drug Authority · SFDA Food Establishment Licensing and Registration; Technical regulations for imported food; SFDA.FD GSO adoptions; Food Import Requirements (2024 guide) | Food and beverage manufacturers, Exporters | 7 | Being confirmed |
| SASO conformity: SABER, SALEEM and the Saudi Quality Mark Saudi Standards, Metrology and Quality Organization · SALEEM product safety programme; SABER platform (product and shipment certificates); SASO technical regulations incl. textiles (SASO 1200/GSO regulations) and the Saudi Quality Mark | Textile and apparel manufacturers, Manufacturers, Exporters | 6 | Being confirmed |
| UAE conformity and food import controls Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology; Dubai Municipality; ADAFSA · MoIAT ECAS and EQM schemes; UAE.S GSO adoptions; Dubai Municipality Food Import and Re-export System (FIRS); ADAFSA import rules; UAE halal national mark | Exporters, Manufacturers, Textile and apparel manufacturers, Food and beverage manufacturers | 6 | Being confirmed |
| GCC customs documentation and conformity mark GCC Secretariat; GSO; national customs · GCC Common Customs Law; GSO Conformity Mark (G-Mark) technical regulations; certificate of origin and attestation requirements | Exporters, Manufacturers, Textile and apparel manufacturers, Food and beverage manufacturers | 5 | Being confirmed |
Checklists in the pack.
- GCC Market Access Review — Food and Beverages
- GCC Market Access Review — Textiles, Apparel and Consumer Goods
- Halal Certification Readiness for GCC Markets
Regulators.
- GSO GCC Standardization Organization
- GAC GCC Accreditation Center
- SFDA Saudi Food and Drug Authority
- SASO Saudi Standards, Metrology and Quality Organization
- ZATCA Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority (Saudi customs)
- MoIAT UAE Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology (conformity, halal mark)
- DM Dubai Municipality Food Safety Department
- ADAFSA Abu Dhabi Agriculture and Food Safety Authority
Who it is for
Exporters, Manufacturers, Textile and apparel manufacturers, Food and beverage manufacturers.
Regulatory calendar.
10 recurring deliverables, each with the regulator, the instrument and the deadline rule. Some examples:
| Deliverable | Regulator | How often | Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|
| SABER Product Certificate of Conformity renewal | SASO | Every year | Before the 12-month validity ends |
| SABER Shipment Certificate of Conformity | SASO / ZATCA | When it happens | For every consignment of regulated products, before arrival |
| SFDA facility and product registration | SFDA | When it happens | Before the first shipment of each product; updated on change |
| Dubai Municipality FIRS item registration and label assessment | Dubai Municipality | When it happens | Before the first import of each item; re-assessment on label change |
| Halal certificate per consignment | GAC-accredited or nationally recognised body | When it happens | Issued for every consignment of meat, poultry and products with animal-derived ingredients |
| Halal certification body audit and renewal | Halal certification body | Every year | Annual surveillance or renewal audit |
Reporting conventions.
- Reports in Arabic and English
- Hijri (Umm al-Qura) dates next to Gregorian dates
- Amounts in SAR
- 4 record-retention rules
Labels must be in Arabic (a second language is allowed alongside). Saudi Arabia uses the Hijri calendar in government documents, but production and expiry dates on food must be Gregorian (Hijri may be added). Certificates of origin and invoices for GCC customs are often attested by the Pakistani chamber of commerce and, for some states, legalised by the embassy. GSO standards are adopted nationally with the national prefix (SASO GSO, UAE.S GSO).
Kept current.
Content version 2026.10, reviewed 29 October 2026. Descriptions are AuditHD's own; each framework links to the official text. License this pack on its own or with other packs; International standards are always included.
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