Saudi Arabia Export Series

Registering Your Food & Drink Products in Saudi Arabia

One of the biggest hurdles for international food and drink brands entering Saudi Arabia is product registration. Without approval from the Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA), your products cannot legally be imported, no matter how strong the market opportunity may be.

At Bolst Global, we help brands navigate this process and avoid common pitfalls. Here are some key tips to ensure your products meet Saudi requirements and are successfully registered.

The SFDA Registration Process

The SFDA is the authority responsible for approving food, beverage and supplement products for importation. Registration is done online by a Saudi-registered entity and typically requires:

  • High-resolution packaging artwork files

  • A 3D front-of-pack image

  • No physical samples (for most food and beverage categories)

While the process is straightforward, there are several important compliance details that brands often miss.

Label and Packaging Requirements

Arabic language: All packaging must include Arabic text. Other languages can appear alongside Arabic, but Arabic is mandatory.

Country of origin: Must be stated clearly in both Arabic and English.

Product name, storage and preparation instructions – All required in Arabic.

Date marking: Saudi Arabia requires both the date of manufacture and date of expiry. “Best before” is not recognised. These dates must be printed in a way that cannot fade or be removed.

Nutritional facts: Must include sodium (not salt), cholesterol and trans fats as separate lines, alongside other nutritional data that works to the Saudi DV (Daily Values) %,. Labels must also be in Arabic.

Allergens: Must be declared, in line with Gulf Standards Organisation (GSO) rules.

Stickers vs Printed Labels

Some brands use Arabic stickers rather than printing text directly on packaging. While this can be acceptable, requirements vary depending on the retailer, distributor or importer. Best practice is to print Arabic at the production stage wherever possible.

Claims and Certifications

Any claims, such as gluten-free or organic, must be backed by certificates and evidence. Brands should be prepared to supply supporting documents if requested.

Halal Requirements

Halal certification is not always required for plant-based products without animal ingredients or alcohol. However, you may nevertheless decide to opt for a certification. For certain categories such as meat and protein products these do require certification. Importantly, certification must come from an SFDA-recognised Halal accreditation body. The SFDA also maintains a list of approved meat factories from which imports are permitted in the same way that the UAE authorities also provide a list of which organisations for halal certification are recognised too.

Stay Up to Date

Regulations in Saudi Arabia can change frequently. Brands should always check the latest SFDA requirements before beginning the registration process.

At Bolst Global, we guide health and wellness brands through the compliance and registration process in Saudi Arabia and the wider GCC. With the right preparation and support, SFDA registration doesn’t have to be daunting, it’s the key to unlocking opportunities in one of the fastest-growing markets in the region.

If you’re ready to begin your journey into Saudi Arabia, get in touch to learn how we can support your export plans.