Saudi Arabia

SGIE Score: 110(2024)Rank: #2

Market Overview

Halal Authority: SFDA (Saudi Food & Drug Authority)
Certification Required: Yes — Mandatory
Key Legislation: Saudi Food Safety Law (2005); SFDA circular on halal certification expansion (Jan 2024); GSO 993:2015; SASO
Import Requirements: Halal Shipment Certificate required for all food products; must be from SFDA-recognized body
Labeling Requirements: Arabic halal + SFDA-compliant certificate; product label registration required

Food & BeveragesIslamic FinanceTourism (Hajj/Umrah)PharmaceuticalsCosmetics

Primary halal authority

Standards organization

Ministry of Investment

Export-Import Bank

Chamber of commerce

Top Halal Exports: Dates (world top exporter), petrochemical-derived food additives, Zamzam water, confectionery
Top Halal Imports: Beef & poultry (Brazil #1, Australia, India, France), dairy (Europe), wheat, rice, processed food
Government Incentives: Vision 2030 food security & agricultural investment; MISA facilitation; non-oil export incentives; up to 10-year tax holidays in SEZs
FDI Rules: 100% foreign ownership now permitted in most sectors; streamlined via MISA

GCC Customs UnionGAFTASaudi-Singapore FTAWTOVision 2030 FDI push

Halal Awareness: Very High (Islamic state)
E-Commerce Adoption: High — noon, Amazon.sa, Careem
Cold Chain Maturity: High
Per Capita Halal Spend: $4,500-5,000
Dining Scene: Widespread — pork & alcohol completely prohibited
Halal Food Availability: Universal
Tourism Infrastructure: World class — Mecca, Medina; massive expansion under Vision 2030