On March 12, 2026, the Saudi Arabian standards organization SASO issued a notice postponing the mandatory implementation date of some products in the first phase of the regulations (SASO IEC 62680-1-2:2023 and SASO IEC 62680-1-3:2023) for electronic devices to uniformly use USB Type-C interfaces, including digital cameras, e-readers, amplifiers, keyboards, computer cursors (mice), portable navigation systems, portable speakers and wireless routers, the grace period has been extended to May 1, 2026.

Previously, Saudi Arabia divided the mandatory implementation of USB unified interface products into two stages:

• The first phase will start on January 1, 2025, and the products include mobile phones, tablets, digital cameras, e-readers, portable video game devices, headphones, amplifiers, keyboards, mice, portable navigation systems, portable speakers and wireless routers, a total of 12 categories of products.
• The second phase will begin on April 1, 2026, and the product will only include laptops.

On January 2, 2025, SASO announced that it would provide a one-year grace period for Phase 1 products. This time, the mandatory date of the above eight categories of products will be postponed to May 1, 2026. SASO also emphasized that all institutions will no longer issue COC certificates for products that are within the scope of control but do not meet the SASO IEC 62680 series standards; No more Shipment Certificate requests based on certificates of conformity issued before May 1, 2026 that do not meet these requirements will no longer be approved.

Click this link to view the original SASO extension of the grace period.

On July 23, 2025, the Saudi Arabian Organization for Standards, Metrology and Quality (SASO) published a circular on the WTO TBT platform numbered G/TBT/N/SAU/1166/Corr.1/Add.1 on the revision of the RoHS regulation. The revised regulations now require compliance with limits for 10 hazardous substances. Additionally, regulations set out procedural obligations for manufacturers, importers, and distributors, including providing safety instructions in Arabic, well-established product labeling, and comprehensive technical documentation. In addition to aligning with EU RoHS in terms of substance restrictions and conformity assessments, Saudi regulations also impose stricter administrative requirements, including technical documentation and declarations of conformity that are kept for at least ten years. The regulations will be enforced one year after the date of publication in the Official Gazette.  

Click this link to view the original WTO TBT circular.

On January 2, 2025, Saudi Arabia's Communications, Space and Technology Commission (CST) and the Saudi Standards, Metrology and Quality Organization (SASO) jointly announced the first phase of mandatory unified charging ports for electronic devices in Saudi Arabia from January 1, 2025. However, at the same time, SASO also sent a letter to the relevant authorities in December, clarifying the following mandatory requirements:

• Submission of SASO IEC 62368-1:2020 Information and Communication Technology Equipment, Audio/Video - Part 1: Safety Requirements Test Report;
• Submit a self-declaration of conformity to SASO, which should be included in the product technical documentation, committing that the uniform charging port meets the performance requirements specified in SASO IEC 62680-1-2:2023 and SASO IEC 62680-1-3:2023;
• A one-year grace period will be provided for the above requirements as of January 1, 2025.

Click this link to view the announcement on the CST website about the first phase of enforcement.

On 9 September 2024, Saudi Arabia's Committee on Communications, Space and Technology (CST) began a public consultation on the spectrum outlook for commercial and innovative use for 2024-2027 and will open for comment until 7 October 2024.

Click on the this link to access the original public consultation.

On July 31, 2024, the Communications, Space and Technology Commission (CST) of Saudi Arabia updated the Internet of Things (IoT) regulations, which will come into force on September 30, 2024.

Click this link to view the original regulation.

The Saudi Organisation for Standards, Metrology and Quality (SASO) published the EMC Technical Regulations on November 17, 2023. The Technical Regulations will enter into force on May 15, 2024. The regulation covers a range of product/product family standards, including standards such as SASO CISPR 32.

Click on the link to view the original document.

The Saudi Standards, Metrology and Quality Organization (SASO) and the Saudi Commission on Communications, Space and Technology (CST) recently announced the unification of the mandatory requirements for charging ports for mobile phones and electronic devices in Saudi Arabia, deciding that USB Type-C will be the only standardized connector from January 1, 2025.

The decision will be made in two phases:

1) The first phase will start from January 1, 2025, and mobile phones, tablets, digital cameras, e-readers, portable video game devices, headphones, amplifiers, keyboards, mice, portable navigation systems, portable speakers, and wireless routers must use the USB Type-C charging port.

2) The second phase will begin on April 1, 2026, and will be available for all devices, including laptops, to use USB-C as an interface.

Click on the link to view the news report on the new rules in the Saudi Gazette on August 6, 2023.