The "Fasah" and "Saber" platforms are essential components of Saudi Arabia's digital transformation efforts, playing a pivotal role in streamlining and developing import and export procedures. "Fasah" is an electronic platform of the General Authority of Customs, designed to expedite customs clearance processes and unify import and export services through a single window, thereby reducing time and costs and increasing procedural efficiency. "Saber," on the other hand, is an electronic platform of the Saudi Standards, Metrology and Quality Organization (SASO), focusing on ensuring that imported products comply with Saudi specifications and standards by issuing conformity certificates before products enter the Saudi market. The integration of these two platforms facilitates the movement of goods and ensures their compliance with standards, thus contributing to the realization of the Kingdom's Vision 2030 goals for digital transformation and the enhancement of international trade.
Linking the Fasah and Saber platforms and its impact on speeding up customs procedures
The Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority, in cooperation with the Saudi Standards, Metrology and Quality Organization (SASO), has implemented an advanced digital integration between the Fasah and Saber platforms , as part of ongoing efforts to expedite and improve customs procedures in the Kingdom. This integration aims to make customs transactions more flexible and efficient, thereby facilitating and simplifying procedures for traders and importers, and reducing the time required to complete transactions.
The Fasah platform is a comprehensive electronic system offering integrated import and export services. It provides over 135 services dedicated to customs operations, contributing to improved flow of goods through customs ports. These services include truck appointment booking, shipment tracking, electronic payment, and various other services related to customs procedures and transportation.
Through this digital link between the Fasah and Saber platforms, importers and traders can complete their transactions faster and more accurately, which enhances the efficiency of the logistics sector in the Kingdom and supports the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 in the field of digital transformation and developing the business environment.
In this article, we will explain the role of both the Fasah and Saber platforms and the importance of each in facilitating business operations, in addition to the target audience of each platform.
Fasah platform: Facilitating import and export operations in Saudi Arabia
It is considered a platform Electronic clearing, affiliated For the Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority In Saudi Arabia, this is a key initiative for achieving the Kingdom's Vision 2030. The platform aims to facilitate and improve international trade services by providing an integrated online import and export system, enabling importers, exporters, and customs brokers to complete their electronic transactions easily and quickly. The platform is designed to improve Saudi Arabia's ranking in global classifications and enhance the performance of its logistics services, thereby making it easier to do business in the Kingdom.
The "Fasah" platform aims to create a unified system for secure electronic data exchange, facilitating the movement of goods through customs ports and enhancing international investor confidence in the Saudi customs system. The platform allows users to submit import and export documents online, eliminating the need for paperwork and expediting customs clearance procedures.
“Fasah” collaborates with a group of relevant government agencies, such as the Food and Drug Authority and the Ministry of Environment and Water, which facilitates the electronic transfer of transactions and their direct follow-up, thus increasing the efficiency and speed of procedures.
Fasah platform objectives
The Fasah platform seeks to achieve several key objectives, most notably:
- Accelerating business processes: The platform facilitates faster import and export procedures through digital transformation.
- Completing operations electronically: This allows for monitoring and completing clearance processes without the need to go to the relevant authorities.
- Enhancing investor confidence: Strengthening the confidence of international investors in the business environment in Saudi Arabia.
- Increased transparency: Providing a high level of transparency in import, export and customs clearance processes.
Fasah platform services
The Fasah platform offers a variety of services through its website, such as:
- Truck appointment booking service: Facilitates coordination between different parties.
- Shipment tracking service: Easily track the progress of your shipments.
- Services tailored to freight forwarders: These include services at seaports, air and land ports, and dry port.
- 24-hour clearance program: A service that allows for the completion of container clearance procedures at ports within 24 hours of their arrival, which contributes to speeding up the customs clearance process and increasing productivity.
- Customs inquiry on the Fasah platform: Inquiry about the customs number of the importer and exporter, insurance fees, possibility of refunding customs duties, and requesting exclusion from customs duties.
- Acknowledgment of non-action.
- Request a follow-up report on the differences.
- Fasah Pay service: A service for digitizing payments and invoices, allowing the creation, modification, and payment of invoices via payment number, and the display of detailed or consolidated reports and invoices.
- Inquire about fines and pledges.
- Inquire about restricted goods.
- Payment of importer insurance fees.
How to register on the Fasah platform
Steps to register on the Fasah platform:
- Access the Fasah website by visiting the official link: https://www.fasah.sa.
- Next, the "Start Now" button must be pressed, and then the user selects the activity and type of entity.
- The type of ID is selected and its number is entered, then the commercial registration number is selected and the authorized representative's ID number and phone number are entered.
- The national ID expiry date must be written in Hijri calendar, then the user must confirm that they are not a robot, and then the "Next" button must be pressed.
- The user will be taken to a new page containing some data that must be entered accurately and clearly.
- The recipient verification code sent via phone is entered in the designated field.
- After that, you should click on "Agree to the terms and conditions".
- Finally, after completing all the previous steps, the "Submit Request" button is pressed.
Second: The Saber platform - accelerating clearance processes and ensuring product safety
منصة سابر is an integrated electronic system developed in collaboration with the Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority in Saudi Arabia. Saber expedites and streamlines the registration process for imported and locally manufactured products in the Kingdom. The system aims to ensure product compliance with Saudi regulations and technical standards by providing electronic conformity certificates, thereby accelerating customs clearance and facilitating the movement of goods in the Saudi market. Furthermore, the system connects traders with relevant government agencies to guarantee product safety and efficiency, enhances market transparency, and reduces risks associated with non-compliant products.
What are the registration requirements for Sabre?
- Commercial registration number and its expiry date.
- The identification number associated with the commercial register.
- A copy of the signature of the authorized representative at the facility.
- A copy of the establishment’s stamp.
What are the advantages of registering with Sabre?
- Linking with relevant parties.
- Continuous improvements to the system.
- Support is available 24/7.
- Priority in clearing.
- Low cost.
- Providing all conformity assessments.
- Review the establishment's data via the commercial registration verification service.
- Saving time and providing flexibility in submitting orders and invoices.
How the Saber platform works
The Saber platform categorizes products as either subject to or exempt from technical regulations. The merchant begins by registering their establishment and entering the customs code for the products. The platform then determines whether the products are regulated or not, and requests the appropriate certificate of conformity if they are. For products not subject to regulations, a self-declaration certificate is submitted.
Objectives of the Saber system
- Improving the import experience.
- Obtaining the required certificates of conformity and shipments.
- Increase the percentage of compliant products in the Kingdom.
- Ensuring product safety and protection from risks.
Product Safety Program on the Saber Platform
The product safety program on the SABER platform aims to ensure that all locally manufactured and imported products comply with Saudi standards. Through this program, products are inspected to verify their safety and prevent unsafe products from entering the Saudi market. The program also contributes to reducing accidents and financial losses resulting from non-compliant products, as well as stimulating local industry through fair competition.
General approach to product safety:
Studying international legislation and updating relevant technical regulations.
- Updating the anti-commercial fraud system.
- Issuing a system specific to product safety, specifications and quality.
- Conduct a risk assessment related to the products.
- Monitoring and evaluating the ongoing efficiency of the entities involved in conformity assessment.
How to tell if the goods need a saber or not?
To determine if the goods require a saber, the following steps can be followed:
Visit the dedicated link for searching products via the Saber platform:https://saber.sa/home/hscodes- Search for the product using the product name or its Harmonized System (HS) Code.
- If the goods require SABER, you will be able to find out the certificates required to make them conform to Saudi specifications through the search results.
- You can follow the necessary procedures to obtain the required certificates for product conformity in accordance with the approved technical regulations.
Steps for registering and documenting products on the Saber platform
- Product registration: Register the product on the Saber platform.
- Declaration procedure: Ensure that the products are declared in accordance with applicable regulations.
- Requesting Certificates of Conformity: Submit an application for the appropriate Certificate of Conformity for the product.
- Shipment matching request: Submit a shipment matching request via the system.
Saber platform achievements
The platform connects a number of government agencies such as the Ministry of Commerce, the Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources, the Saudi Standards, Metrology and Quality Organization, the Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority, the Communications, Space and Technology Authority, the Local Content and Government Procurement Authority, and the Anti-Commercial Concealment Program.
Achievements:
- Millions of products are registered on the platform.
- Issuing millions of certificates of conformity and shipment.
- The number of traders registered on the platform has exceeded thousands.
- Many beneficiaries have benefited from the platform's services.
- Significant progress has been made in the conformity index.
In conclusion:
The "Fasah" and "Saber" platforms are vital digital tools that contribute to improving and expediting import and export processes in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. By facilitating customs procedures and ensuring product safety and compliance with approved specifications, these platforms enhance the efficiency of international trade and protect the Saudi market. They also support the Kingdom's Vision 2030 by adopting technology and innovation to improve the business environment and increase transparency in commercial transactions.