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.