Saudi Arabia Export Series

Registering Food Supplement Products in Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia is becoming an increasingly attractive market for international vitamin and supplement brands. With recent regulatory changes from the Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA), it has become much easier to register products such as capsules and tablets that were previously classified as pharmaceutical products.

This opens up a wealth of opportunity, but there are still important steps and considerations to be aware of when registering food supplements in the Kingdom.

Product Classification Matters

One of the most important aspects of SFDA registration is classification. Products are categorised based on active ingredients and upper limits within the Saudi Arabian regulations for micronutrients such as vitamins and minerals. While a product may be considered a standard food supplement in your home country, in Saudi Arabia it could be reclassified as a health product or even a herbal product.

Health products and herbal products have longer,and more complex registration processes compared to food supplements. However, they also carry potential advantages, such as exemption from VAT and in some cases reimbursement through insurance, which can make products more attractive to healthcare professionals and consumers/patients

If you are unsure about your product’s classification, the SFDA provides a mechanism to submit products for review and receive an official determination from them to guide you.

Label and Packaging Requirements

Food supplements in Saudi Arabia must comply with strict labelling standards.
Key requirements include:

Arabic text on all labels (other languages can be included, but Arabic is mandatory)
Preference for Arabic to be printed directly on packaging, rather than added as stickers

Full nutritional tables, similar to food and beverages, including fats, proteins, sodium, trans fats and cholesterol

Evidence-based claims (for example, organic or gluten-free) supported by certificates

Clear warnings and user group information where relevant, such as “not suitable for children” or “not suitable during pregnancy”

These requirements often mean that brands need to adapt their existing packaging significantly before submitting products to the SFDA.

Opportunities Through Different Channels

Supplements in Saudi Arabia are not only sold through pharmacy retail chains but can also be accessed via healthcare professionals and doctor prescriptions. This provides additional opportunities for brands whose products gain acceptance through more rigorous registration routes.

While longer classifications such as health or herbal products require more effort, they can create long-term benefits such as better price positioning, insurance reimbursement, and stronger endorsement from healthcare professionals.

A Growing Market for Supplements

The supplements market in Saudi Arabia is growing but not yet mature. Consumer demand is rising, and there is still room for new entrants who are willing to adapt their products to local compliance requirements and commit to long-term market development.

At Bolst Global, we work with international supplement brands to navigate the SFDA registration process, adapt labels and packaging, and develop long-term strategies for entering the Saudi market.

If you have a supplement brand and are considering Saudi Arabia as your next export destination, now is the time to explore the opportunity.