Importing medical devices to Saudi Arabia: duty, certification and clearance

Customs duty on medical devices imported into Saudi Arabia is 0–5%; most medical lines are low or duty-free, with 15% VAT applied on CIF value plus duty. Certification requirement: SFDA Medical Device Marketing Authorization (MDMA) before import; the authorised representative in Saudi Arabia is mandatory for foreign manufacturers. Main supply origins are the USA, Germany, China and Japan. Sanad Global, a customs brokerage operating in Saudi Arabia, clears this category through FASAH and prepares the certificates before shipment.

What does it cost to import medical devices?

Three components: duty at 0–5%; most medical lines are low or duty-free, VAT at 15% of CIF value plus duty, and clearance costs (port handling, broker fee, storage after the free period). Freight comes on top and depends on origin: sea freight from Asia takes 12–30 days, from Europe 12–25 days, road freight from the UAE 1–3 days.

The HS code decides everything in this category: two similar products can carry different rates. Sanad Global verifies classification against ZATCA tariff schedules before the supplier is paid, and issues a fixed written landed-cost quote within 30 minutes during working hours.

Certification before shipping

Sfda medical device marketing authorization (mdma) before import; the authorised representative in saudi arabia is mandatory for foreign manufacturers.

The rule that saves money: certify while the factory produces. Certification prepared in parallel with production adds zero days to the timeline; certification started after arrival means storage fees and, in the worst case, re-export. MDMA licensing takes weeks to months depending on device class, far longer than the freight, so registration must start when the purchase is planned, not when cargo ships.

How Sanad Global handles this category

Sanad Global manages the full chain for medical devices: supplier document checks in the origin country, SABER/SFDA certification, sea, air or road freight, FASAH customs declaration under power of attorney, duty payment and delivery to the warehouse. One contract, one point of contact, and a business club of importers working with Saudi Arabia and the Gulf.

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