Expanding into the lucrative Saudi Arabian market requires a clear understanding of its strict product compliance laws. If you are manufacturing, importing, or distributing goods in the Kingdom, navigating the Saudi Quality Mark (SQM) is a strategic imperative. This comprehensive guide details the significance of the SQM, the specific products that require it, how it digitizes through the unified Maneh platform, and how it directly saves you money on the Saber portal.
What is the Saudi Quality Mark (SQM)?
The Saudi Quality Mark (SQM) is a prestigious national licensing seal owned and granted exclusively by the Saudi Standards, Metrology, and Quality Organization (SASO). It is not a temporary, one-time shipment certificate; rather, it is a formal, three-year license proving that a factory maintains a high-tier quality management system and produces goods that consistently meet rigorous Saudi technical regulations.
The Technical Framework Behind SQM
The SQM operates on a highly rigorous international framework. The entire certification mechanism is built in strict alignment with ISO/IEC 17067 (System 5 Type) compliance and managed under ISO/IEC 17065 requirements for bodies operating product certification programs.
System 5 represents the absolute highest tier of product certification worldwide. Unlike basic testing, it combines comprehensive initial factory audits, technical file reviews, and ongoing continuous testing of random samples drawn directly from the production lines. By securing the SQM, global manufacturers actively support the strategic goals of the Saudi National Transformation Program and Saudi Vision 2030, building deep consumer trust and fostering fair trade under the Saudi Product Safety Program (SALEEM).
What Products Require the Saudi Quality Mark?
While SQM is entirely voluntary for the vast majority of consumer goods, SASO legally mandates this certification for specific high-risk product categories that directly impact consumer health, safety, and national infrastructure. For voluntary items, obtaining the mark serves as a massive marketing and operational differentiator.
The table below breaks down the legal scope of the SQM according to current SASO regulations:
| Classification | Product Categories & Scope |
| Mandatory (By Law) |
• Gas appliances and accessories (Liquefied Petroleum Gas)
• Iron plates, flat steel products, and steel rebars
• Cement and ready-mix concrete
• Ceramic tiles
• Aluminium composite panels (cladding)
• Additives used for OXO/Bio-degradable plastics
• Electrical extension sets (cords)
• Plugs, switches, and sockets for household use |
| Voluntary (Strategic Edge) |
• Any product governed by an active SASO standard
• Products where a SASO granting procedure guideline is available
• Goods earmarked for use in major governmental or vision infrastructure projects |
How SQM Integrates with the Saber Platform
The SQM operates at a structurally higher regulatory level than the Saber portal. Once a manufacturing facility successfully obtains the SQM license, all registration and conformity fees on the Saber platform are completely waived for those specific products. The SQM replaces the need to apply for individual Product Certificates of Conformity (PCoC) and Shipment Certificates (SCoC) for every single cargo shipment.
Solving the Exporter’s Confusion
Many global exporters confuse Saber with the SQM. Think of Saber as the day-to-day transaction portal used to clear standard shipments via individual certificate tracking. The SQM, on the other hand, is a gold-tier plant and product authorization.
Integrating an active SQM into your profile yields distinct benefits:
- Drastic Cost Reductions: By eliminating individual PCoC fees per product line, your operational compliance overhead plummets.
- Accelerated Supply Chains: Because your facility is pre-verified as a System 5 compliant plant, customs officials fast-track your cargo through maritime and border ports with minimal inspection delays.
Digital Evolution: Out with Jeem1, In with Maneh
If your compliance team is still searching for the old Jeem1 portal, please note that SASO has officially phased it out. All digital operations have migrated to the unified Maneh Platform (maneh.saso.gov.sa).
The Maneh platform serves as Saudi Arabia’s single digital gateway for managing complex product compliance, integrating the Saudi Building Code (SBC), IECEE certificate issuances, and all SQM licensing workflows into a streamlined, highly secure interface.
The Modern SQM Workflow on Maneh
To secure the SQM license, businesses must now execute their applications through the Maneh ecosystem following this precise sequence:
1.Account Setup & Maneh Registration:Initial Setup.
Navigate to the official SASO Maneh platform. Create a verified corporate account by entering your legal corporate entity details, valid commercial registration numbers, tax data, and industrial licenses.
2.Dossier Submission & Module Selection:Within 5 Business Days.
Select the specific Quality Mark License module inside Maneh (e.g., Construction Products or Food Products). Upload your comprehensive technical files, factory quality manuals, and product lists into the platform for structural screening.
3.Conformity Body Assignment:Technical Study Delegation.
SASO reviews the digital filing inside Maneh and officially delegates the technical study and factory audit mandate to an approved Notified Body, such as HQTS.
4.On-Site Factory Audit & Laboratory Testing:Scheduled Inspections.
Auditors perform comprehensive on-site assessments of production machinery, raw materials, and quality management systems. Random samples are drawn directly from the production line and tested in ISO 17025 accredited laboratories.
5.Rectification & Final Approval via Maneh:Closing Gaps.
If any non-conformities are logged, the factory implements verified corrective actions. Once approved by the Notified Body, the final recommendation goes to the SASO technical committee for the digital issuance of the SQM license via Maneh.
Required Documentation Checklist
To prevent immediate document rejections within the Maneh portal, prepare the following complete dossier:
- Valid Commercial Registration (CR) and Industrial Licenses
- Factory Location Map and documented Organizational Structure
- ISO 9001 and/or ISO 14001 Quality Management Certificates
- A comprehensive Factory Quality Manual and detailed Quality Control Plan
- 3 months of internal self-monitoring test records formatted to SASO standards
- Product lists, labeling/marking artwork, and GS1 Barcode Registration Certificates
- Test reports issued by an ISO 17025 accredited lab (not older than 1 year) along with the laboratory’s scope of accreditation
- Valid safety/conformity certificates where applicable (e.g., EER, Water Efficiency Labels, G-Mark)
Displaying the Mark and Post-Market Surveillance
The SQM license is valid for exactly three years, subject to continuous maintenance via annual surveillance audits conducted every 6 to 12 months depending on the product’s risk classification. Legally, the mark features the official Arabic letter “ج“ (representing Jawda, the Arabic word for Quality) and must be printed permanently on the final product packaging.
The “Taakkad” App Verification System
Compliance tracking does not end at the port. Saudi customs enforcement officers, local distributors, and everyday end-consumers utilize the official Saudi mobile application called Taakkad.
By scanning the mandatory QR code or GS1 barcode printed permanently on your product packaging, the app queries the SASO database in real-time to instantly confirm whether your SQM license is active, suspended, or expired. Permanent, high-contrast, unerasable labeling on your final packaging is an absolute legal mandate to pass these post-market checks.
Timeline and Cost Breakdowns
Securing a brand new Saudi Quality Mark license typically takes approximately 70 business days from the exact date of your complete Maneh digital portal submission. Total costs vary dynamically based on factory square footage, geographical location, product complexity, and the specific technical testing protocols required by SASO guidelines.
Because every factory operates at a different baseline level of structural readiness, reaching out to an authorized global inspection partner gives you a crystal-clear, transparent view of the specific testing fees, audit travel expenses, and registration costs tailored strictly to your operations.
How HQTS Simplifies Your Path to the Saudi Quality Mark
Navigating the nuances of System 5 factory assessments, compiling the intensive technical documentation for the new Maneh portal, and integrating seamlessly with Saber can be operationally complex.
As one of the world’s leading quality control organizations, HQTS acts as your end-to-end conformity assessment partner. We provide structural guidance at every turn: reviewing technical files, pinpointing documentation gaps before portal entry, executing strict on-site factory audits, managing laboratory sample workflows, and preparing your facility to pass SASO reviews smoothly.
Contact HQTS today for a free expert consultation to secure your gateway into the dynamic Saudi Arabian market.
