Saudi Arabia takes cosmetics safety seriously. SFDA has run large enforcement campaigns against non-compliant and counterfeit beauty products, and its border teams check cosmetics consignments against national records. For a UAE exporter, that means a shipment that isn't fully compliant will be found out, at the pre-shipment inspection, at Al Batha, or at the port.
The good news is that most holds come from a short list of avoidable mistakes. Below are the 12 most common reasons a cosmetics shipment is held at Saudi customs, what each one means, and how to prevent it.
1. The product isn't notified in GHAD
What happens: The importer or exporter ships before the product is listed in SFDA's GHAD system, often thinking the listing "is in progress". Why it's a problem: Under the Saudi Cosmetic Products Law, a cosmetic product may not be imported or traded unless it is notified. No notification means no CoC and no clearance. How to avoid it: Get the GHAD notification number for every SKU, size and shade before you book a truck.
2. The product is notified under a different importer
What happens: The brand changed its Saudi distributor, or a new buyer orders goods that were notified by someone else. Why it's a problem: The notification belongs to the importer (notifier). SFDA guidance treats a change of importer as a new notification, not an update. How to avoid it: Confirm that the importer on your commercial invoice is the same importer that holds the GHAD listings.
3. Expired notification
What happens: A product listed years ago hasn't been renewed. Why it's a problem: SFDA requires renewal at least 90 days before expiry. Expired listings block the CoC. How to avoid it: Keep a renewal calendar for every SKU you ship regularly. Your forwarder can remind you if they hold your compliance file.
4. No Certificate of Conformity, or one that doesn't match
What happens: The truck leaves before the CoC is issued in FASEH, or the CoC covers different quantities or batches than the ones loaded. Why it's a problem: The CoC is per shipment. Products without a valid CoC can be rejected at the border. How to avoid it: Don't release the vehicle until the CoC is issued, and make sure the quantities and batches match the invoice.
5. Goods loaded without the inspector, or a broken seal
What happens: Cartons are added after inspection, the loading wasn't witnessed, or the seal number on the documents differs from the seal on the truck. Why it's a problem: For UAE exports, approved conformity bodies require witnessed loading and sealing. Destination inspection isn't an option. How to avoid it: Load once, in front of the inspector, and record the seal number on the CMR, invoice and declaration.
6. Country of origin written the wrong way
What happens: Labels say "Made in PRC", "Made in U.S.A." or "Assembled in UAE". Why it's a problem: Saudi national requirements say the country of origin must be written in full and must use "Made in…". How to avoid it: Check every SKU. Fix it with a durable label before inspection.
7. Missing Arabic information or Saudi importer details
What happens: English-only labels, or labels that don't name the importer in Saudi Arabia. Why it's a problem: Labels must meet GSO 1943 and Saudi requirements, including Arabic information and the local importer's name and address. How to avoid it: Use bilingual labels or permanent Arabic stickers that don't cover the batch, expiry or other mandatory information. See our labelling checklist.
8. Medical or exaggerated claims
What happens: Packaging or leaflets say "cures acne", "heals eczema", "stops hair loss" or "anti-bacterial treatment". Why it's a problem: Cosmetic claims must comply with GSO 2528 and must not be medical. Claims can lead SFDA to reclassify the product as a drug, which follows a different registration route. How to avoid it: Review all text on the product, outer box, leaflet and promotional inserts. Use cosmetic language such as "helps reduce the appearance of…".
9. Banned or restricted ingredients
What happens: A formula contains a substance that SFDA has banned, or uses a restricted ingredient above its permitted level or without the required warning. Why it's a problem: SFDA publishes lists of prohibited and restricted ingredients, permitted preservatives, colourants and UV filters, and updates them. Recent updates added new prohibited substances, with compliance required from 1 January 2026. How to avoid it: Ask the manufacturer to screen every formula against the current SFDA lists, not an old version, and keep an ISO/IEC 17025 lab report on file.
10. Batch numbers and documents don't match
What happens: The invoice says batch 2405A, the cartons say 2405B. Or the packing list quantity is different from what's on the pallets. Why it's a problem: Inspectors and border officers have to match goods to documents. Mismatches stop the file. How to avoid it: Generate invoices and packing lists from the actual stock picked, not from the order. Count and check before inspection.
11. Perfume and aerosols shipped without dangerous goods paperwork
What happens: Alcohol-based perfumes (usually UN 1266, Class 3) or aerosols (usually UN 1950, Class 2) are shipped as general cargo. Why it's a problem: It breaks transport safety rules, and carriers or authorities can refuse or hold the cargo, separately from any SFDA issue. How to avoid it: Classify every SKU from its Safety Data Sheet, then pack, label and declare to the correct DG standard. Read our perfume shipping guide.
12. Wrong HS code or the wrong regulator
What happens: Cosmetics are declared under a non-cosmetic HS code, or treated as SABER goods instead of SFDA goods. Mixed loads of beauty devices and cosmetics often have only one set of paperwork. Why it's a problem: Customs and SFDA records don't line up, and the wrong certificate is presented. How to avoid it: Use the correct Saudi tariff HS code for each line, and split SFDA and SABER items clearly. See SFDA vs SABER.
What happens when a shipment is held?
Depending on the issue, outcomes range from:
- A short delay while missing documents are supplied
- Relabelling or corrective action under supervision, where the authorities allow it
- Re-export of the goods to the UAE
- Rejection and destruction in serious cases, such as banned ingredients or counterfeit goods
Every outcome costs money: truck waiting time at Al Batha, port storage, demurrage, re-inspection fees, missed retail slots and damaged relationships with buyers. Prevention is far cheaper than cure.
A simple pre-shipment control
Before any cosmetics shipment leaves for Saudi Arabia, the following should be confirmed in writing:
| Check | Done |
|---|---|
| GHAD notification number for every SKU/size/shade, under this importer, not expired | ☐ |
| Labels checked: Arabic, importer details, "Made in [full country]", batch, expiry, no medical claims | ☐ |
| Formulas screened against current SFDA banned/restricted lists | ☐ |
| ISO/IEC 17025 test report, GMP/QMS certificate and ingredient lists on file | ☐ |
| Invoice and packing list generated from the actual stock, with batch numbers and HS codes | ☐ |
| DG classification from the SDS for perfumes, aerosols and nail products | ☐ |
| CoC requested, inspection booked, samples set aside | ☐ |
| Witnessed loading done, seal number recorded on every document | ☐ |
| CoC issued in FASEH before dispatch | ☐ |
| Saudi broker briefed with the full document pack | ☐ |
How JW Marine & Freight keeps your cosmetics moving
JW Marine & Freight built its SFDA cosmetics process around exactly these failure points:
- Pre-shipment file check: GHAD numbers, importer match, labels, batches and HS codes reviewed before booking
- Inspection-ready warehousing in the UAE, with sorting by SKU and batch and DG segregation
- Conformity body coordination, witnessed loading and sealing, done once and done correctly
- Road, sea and air to every Saudi region, with clearance at Al Batha, Dammam, Jeddah or the airports through our Saudi partner brokers
- A compliance file per customer, so repeat shipments are faster and renewals aren't missed
New to the process? Start with our complete guide to shipping cosmetics from the UAE to Saudi Arabia.
Common questions.
My shipment is already held at Al Batha. Can you help?
Contact us with the documents and the reason given. Depending on the issue, we work with our Saudi partners on the fastest available remedy, whether that's supplying documents, corrective action or arranging return.
How long can a truck wait at the border?
It depends on the issue. Simple document gaps can be solved in hours. Notification or labelling problems can take much longer.
Are counterfeit or grey-market cosmetics a risk?
Yes. Saudi authorities actively act against counterfeit and illegal cosmetics. Ship only genuine products with full documentation from the brand or authorised supply chain.
Practical guidance as of October 2026, based on SFDA publications and approved conformity body requirements. Outcomes of holds are decided by the Saudi authorities.