Countries · SA
Saudi Arabia: sanctions and trade risk
As of 7 November 2026, the screened UN, EU, UK, Swiss and US sanctions lists contain 11 companies, organisations, vessels and aircraft linked to Saudi Arabia.Lists last checked .
Logistics profile: ports, airports, customs, documents, holidays, news ↓
No elevated country indicator for Saudi Arabia in the route rules Sanctioni uses. That is not a clearance: goods may still be export-controlled, and parties in Saudi Arabia may still be on a list.
On the sanctions lists
11 entries on the official lists name Saudi Arabia — as nationality, address, registration or flag. That links them to the country; it says nothing about other companies there. The same company can appear on several lists and is then counted once per list. Individuals are not included — Sanctioni does not process them.
| List | Entries | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US OFAC — Specially Designated Nationals (SDN) | 10 | 10 | — | — |
| EU Consolidated Financial Sanctions List (FSF) | 1 | 1 | — | — |
Latest changes
No new listings or removals naming Saudi Arabia recorded yet.
Related
Logistics profile
Saudi Arabia: logistics and trade
World's largest crude oil exporter and emerging GCC logistics and transit hub (Vision 2030)
Saudi Arabia (SA) is the largest economy in the Gulf region, the world's biggest crude-oil exporter and, through Vision 2030 and the National Transport and Logistics Strategy (NTLS), is positioning itself as a logistics hub between Asia, Europe and Africa. As a member of the GCC customs union it applies a common external tariff of usually 5 percent; the tax and customs authority ZATCA levies 15 percent VAT on imports, with clearance running through the national FASAH single window. Since 2025 most goods require a SABER/SASO certificate of conformity (PCoC and SCoC), while food and medicines fall under the SFDA. The main gateways are Jeddah Islamic Port and King Abdullah Port on the Red Sea, King Abdulaziz Port in Dammam on the Gulf, and the cargo airports of Riyadh (RUH), Jeddah (JED) and Dammam (DMM). Key corridors are the Riyadh-Dammam and Riyadh-Jeddah (Highway 40) axes, the land bridge towards Jordan, and the North-South Railway with the Riyadh Dry Port. Exports are dominated by crude oil, petrochemicals and chemicals; imports by machinery, vehicles and electronics. The main trading partners are China, India, the USA and the EU. The national currency is the Saudi Riyal (SAR).
- Capital
- Riyadh
- Population
- 35,300,000
- Area
- 2,149,690 km²
- Currency
- Saudi Riyal (SAR)
- Continent
- Asia
- Region
- Middle East / GCC (Gulf region)
- Economic area
- GCC Customs Union (Gulf Cooperation Council)
- Religions
- Islam
- Access to the sea
- Yes
Transport modes Sea · Air · Road · Rail
- Current situation
- Red Sea remains tense: a renewed attack on a cargo ship was reported in early July 2026; in mid-July, Iran instructed the Houthis to block the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait in response to US strikes. Traffic through the strait is well below pre-crisis levels, but Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd are resuming individual Red Sea routes. No findings on changes to VAT (15 percent confirmed) or FASAH. (As of 2026-07-20)
- Seasonal conditions
- Extreme summer heat (over 45 degrees) requires continuous cold chains; occasional sandstorms and flash floods. The Hajj season ties up capacity in Jeddah and at the Red Sea ports.
Main seaports
- Dammam
Dammam (SA DMM), King Abdulaziz Port – the Arabian Gulf's largest container port, about 3.2M TEU in 2024, rail land bridge to Riyadh. Alternatives: Jubail, Jeddah.
- Yanbu
King Fahd Industrial Port, Yanbu (SA YBI): Saudi Arabia's main Red Sea oil and petrochemical port, with container, grain, iron-ore and cement terminals.
- Jiddah
Jeddah Islamic Port (SA JED): Saudi Arabia's largest container port, >4M TEU via RSGT and South Container Terminal, handling ~70% of national imports.
- King Fahd Port
King Fahd Industrial Port, Yanbu: Saudi Arabia's largest crude, products and petrochemical port on the Red Sea, 34 berths. For pure container traffic, use Jeddah.
- Ras Tannurah
Ras Tanura (SA RTA): world's largest crude-oil export terminal, run by Saudi Aramco, ~9M barrels/day. A pure energy port; containers via Dammam.
- Duba
Duba (SA DHU), since 2023 Port of NEOM: Red Sea port for containers, bulk and ROPAX, with a daily ferry to Safaga. Deep-sea boxes route via Jeddah.
Main cargo airports
- King Khaled International AirportRUH
King Khalid International (RUH), Riyadh: the capital's main air-cargo centre, ~600,000 t capacity, Saudia Cargo, DHL, FedEx. Inland hub, dates export, Vision 2030.
- King Abdulaziz International AirportJED
King Abdulaziz International (JED), Jeddah: Saudia Cargo's home base, ~600,000 t cargo capacity, Red Sea location by Jeddah Islamic Port. A leading Gulf freight airport.
- King Fahd International AirportDMM
King Fahd International (DMM), Dammam: Eastern Province freight gateway, cargo village, capacity set to reach 600,000+ t by 2030, beside King Abdulaziz Port and rail.
Road corridors
- Riyadh - Dammam (Gulf coast)
- Riyadh - Jeddah / Mecca (Highway 40)
- Land bridge towards Jordan and Turkey/Europe
- King Fahd Causeway to Bahrain
- Connections to UAE, Kuwait, Oman
Rail corridors
- North-South Railway (Riyadh - Al-Haditha / mineral corridor)
- Riyadh - Dammam (SAR, passengers and freight)
- Saudi Landbridge (planned Riyadh - Jeddah)
- Haramain High Speed (Mecca - Medina, passengers)
Inland ports
- Riyadh Dry Port (SAR, connection to Dammam)
Main trade lanes
- China - Saudi Arabia
- India - Saudi Arabia
- Saudi Arabia - Japan / South Korea (energy)
- USA - Saudi Arabia
- EU / Germany - Saudi Arabia
- UAE - Saudi Arabia (GCC)
Customs and import
Customs authority Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority (ZATCA / Saudi Customs)Official website ↗
- Import customs system
- Imports are processed via the FASAH single window (Saudi Customs/ZATCA); conformity via SABER/SASO (PCoC and SCoC mandatory since 2025), food and pharmaceuticals via SFDA. GCC external tariff usually 5 percent (chemicals sometimes 2, special cases up to 52).
- Export customs system
- Export declarations via FASAH/ZATCA; export service fees waived since October 2024. Crude oil exports are state-controlled through Saudi Aramco.
- Import VAT
- 15 percent standard VAT on imports (ZATCA, since 1. July 2020), levied at import on a customs-value-inclusive basis; certain supplies zero-rated.
- Proofs of origin and trade agreements
- GCC customs union (duty-free within the Gulf region) and Pan-Arab Free Trade Area GAFTA; preferential origin via certificate of origin. No free trade agreement with the EU or EFTA.
- Restricted and prohibited goods
- Prohibited: alcohol, pork, narcotics, weapons, pornography, gambling devices, used tyres. Requires permit: pharmaceuticals (SFDA), radio equipment, chemicals, seeds, live animals.
Typical import documents
- Commercial invoice (Arabic/English)
- Packing list
- Certificate of origin
- Bill of Lading / Air Waybill
- SABER conformity certificate (PCoC/SCoC)
- SFDA approval (food/pharmaceuticals)
Typical export documents
- Commercial invoice
- Packing list
- Certificate of origin
- Bill of Lading / Air Waybill
- FASAH export declaration
Logistics conditions
- Customs complexity
- Medium to high
- Customs delays
- Medium
- Port congestion
- Medium
- Dangerous goods relevance
- High
- Pharma and cold chain relevance
- High
- E-commerce relevance
- High
Trade
Top import partners
Top export partners
Top import goods
- Machinery
- Vehicles
- Electronic devices
- Pharmaceuticals
- Food
Top export goods
- Crude oil
- Petroleum products
- Chemicals
- Metals
- Chemical products
Typical cargo
- Crude oil and petroleum products
- Petrochemicals and chemicals
- Machinery and vehicles
- Electronics and industrial goods
- Pharmaceuticals (cold chain)
- Food
Upcoming public holidays
- Founding DayMon, 22 Feb 2027 · businesses closed
- Saudi National DayThu, 23 Sept 2027 · businesses closed
Latest logistics news
- Riyadh: Air Freight Capacity Declines Following Attacks17 Oct 2026
Riyadh experiences short-term air freight capacity losses. The analysis from October 9 shows significant disruptions, but no permanent impact.
- Hormuz Remains a Problem Zone: China Restructures Its Oil Route19 Aug 2026
China is diverting its oil shipments away from Hormuz and Bab al-Mandeb. At the same time, a deadly attack on a cargo vessel demonstrates how high the risk remains.
- MSC Reroutes Seven Container Ships Through Suez and Bab el-Mandeb19 Aug 2026
MSC is increasingly operating through the Suez Canal and the Red Sea again. Seven vessels have already been documented. However, a complete return to the route has not yet been officially announced.
- Cosco Reopens Red Sea – Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd Expand Suez Services13 Aug 2026
Cosco as well as Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd are expanding their services through the Red Sea and Suez Canal. This could have major implications for transit times and capacity.
- Saudi Arabia Establishes 14-Nation Alliance for the Red Sea3 Aug 2026
Saudi Arabia leads a 14-nation alliance to protect the Red Sea. In the short term, little is changing for shipping companies: the mission is still in the build-up phase.
Logistics questions
What are customs duties and import tax in Saudi Arabia?
As a member of the GCC customs union, Saudi Arabia generally levies a common external tariff of 5 percent on the value of goods; certain chemicals are reduced to 2 percent, and special cases go up to 52 percent. In addition, an import VAT of 15 percent applies, which ZATCA collects at import.
Which customs system does Saudi Arabia use?
Imports and exports are handled through the national single window FASAH, operated by Saudi Customs (ZATCA). There, the customs declaration and the evidence from SABER, SASO and SFDA come together before customs officers release the goods.
What is SABER and when do I need it?
SABER is the electronic conformity platform of the standards authority SASO. Since 1. January 2025, practically all shipments require a Product Certificate of Conformity (PCoC) and a Shipment Certificate of Conformity (SCoC) via SABER. Without these documents, the goods are not released in the FASAH system.
Which goods are prohibited or restricted in Saudi Arabia?
Prohibited items include alcohol, pork, narcotics, weapons, pornography, gambling devices and used tyres. Items requiring a permit include, among others, pharmaceuticals (SFDA), radio and dual-use technology, chemicals, seeds and live animals.
Which ports and airports are most important for freight?
On the Red Sea, the Jeddah Islamic Port and King Abdullah Port (KAEC) dominate, while on the Persian Gulf, King Abdulaziz Port in Dammam and the industrial ports of Jubail and Yanbu are key. In air cargo, Riyadh (RUH), Jeddah (JED) with its pharma cold-chain center, and Dammam (DMM) lead.
Which documents do I need for importing into Saudi Arabia?
Commonly required are the commercial invoice and packing list (Arabic/English), a certificate of origin, a transport document (Bill of Lading or Air Waybill), the SABER conformity certificate (PCoC/SCoC) and, for food or pharmaceuticals, an SFDA approval. Labels must be in Arabic and English.
What does Vision 2030 mean for logistics?
With Vision 2030 and the National Transport and Logistics Strategy (NTLS), Saudi Arabia aims to increase the sector's contribution to GDP to 10 percent and establish itself as a global logistics hub. To achieve this, ports, rail corridors, land bridges and projects such as NEOM and King Abdullah Port are being expanded significantly.
Full logistics profile on Freight Academy ↗
Powered by Freight Academy, verified 20 Jul 2026. Logistics information, not a sanctions source.