1. SFDA Product Registration: The First Gate to Saudi Arabia

For a brand that wants to sell cosmetics in Saudi Arabia, SFDA product registration is usually the first procedure it meets.
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The SFDA is the Saudi Food and Drug Authority, the body that oversees food, drugs, and cosmetics in the Kingdom.
Cosmetics imported into Saudi Arabia must be registered with the SFDA and receive a registration certificate.
Until that certificate is issued, import, distribution, and advertising cannot begin.

This article is written for brands entering Saudi Arabia for the first time.
It outlines what SFDA registration is, what brands need to prepare, and how the process flows.

2. How the Registration Process Flows

• Step 1, organize the products to register:
  Decide which products will be registered in Saudi Arabia and gather the basic information for each.
• Step 2, prepare documents and artwork:
  Assemble the documents each product needs and review the information on the artwork against Saudi requirements.
• Step 3, submit the registration:
  The prepared information is entered into the SFDA online system and reviewed. If the SFDA asks for more information, it is supplemented and resubmitted. Approval takes about 2 to 3 weeks on average, but this may vary with the product type and how well the documents are prepared.
• Step 4, registration certificate issued:
  Once approved, a registration certificate is issued for each product.
• Step 5, preparing to ship:
  After registration, products going to Saudi Arabia must carry labeling that meets Saudi requirements before shipping and customs clearance proceed.

Steps 1 and 2 take the most preparation time.
Getting the documents and artwork information aligned from the start helps shorten the overall schedule.

3. What Brands Prepare

What a brand prepares falls into five broad groups. Required documents and detailed requirements differ by product, so please read the list below as a way to understand the overall picture.

• Basic product information: Organize basics such as the product name, volume, barcode, and manufacturer details.
• Artwork information: Organize the information that goes on the product artwork in English. Once we receive it, Shukran Korea starts the translation work needed to produce the Arabic label.
• Product materials: Obtain from the manufacturer the materials that confirm the product's ingredients and quality.
• CFS (Certificate of Free Sale): Prepare the certificate confirming that the product is freely sold in Korea.
• Certification documents, where applicable: If the product highlights something separately, such as a vegan certification or an award, prepare the documents that support it.

4. Good to Know Before You Start

• Information across documents must be consistent. The product name and other key details should be the same on every document and on the artwork, so it helps to settle the reference information early.
• Artwork wording should be checked against Saudi requirements. Phrases commonly used in Korea can be unacceptable in Saudi Arabia, so the wording on the artwork needs to be reviewed in advance.
• Certifications and awards need supporting evidence. It is safer not to use logos or phrases on the artwork that cannot be backed by documentation.
• Halal certification is not a requirement for registration. What is required for cosmetics in Saudi Arabia is SFDA product registration. Halal certification is optional and added by brands as needed.
• There is more to handle after registration. Registration is only the first step, and further points need to be confirmed during shipping and customs clearance.

5. Shukran Korea's Services

Shukran Korea supports Korean brands preparing to enter Saudi Arabia and the UAE with certification support, IOR (importer of record), logistics, marketing, and VAT registration and filing services.

• Certification support: Consultation on and support with product registration procedures.
• IOR (importer of record): Importer of record services in Saudi Arabia and the UAE.
• Logistics: Once the brand prepares and hands over the shipping and customs documents, we carry out customs clearance based on them and support the connection to local logistics. The documents required differ by product and import conditions.
• Marketing: Marketing services that help introduce brands in local markets.
• VAT registration and filing: We handle VAT registration and filing on your behalf; the materials needed may differ by business.

We guide the preparation each product needs through consultation. If you are unsure where to begin, please get in touch first. For inquiries about entering Saudi Arabia, please contact Shukran Korea.

This article is based on publicly available SFDA information as of October 2026. Regulations and procedures may change and may vary by individual product and business, so confirmation with a qualified professional is recommended before proceeding.