April 2026

The Saudi Standards, Metrology and Quality Organization has adopted updated energy efficiency standards for air conditioning equipment, effective 1 December 2026. The revised standards SASO-2663:2025 (low-capacity air conditioners) and SASO-2874:2025 (large-capacity air conditioners) replace previous versions and introduce stricter minimum energy performance requirements.

From the enforcement date, Conformity Assessment Bodies are prohibited from issuing Product Certificates of Conformity or Shipment Certificates of Conformity for products not compliant with the 2025 editions.

Effect: Manufacturers, importers, and exporters of air conditioning equipment destined for the Saudi Arabian market must ensure product compliance with the updated technical requirements and obtain re-certification under the new standards before the December 2026 deadline to avoid market access restrictions and customs clearance issues.

1. Background and Regulatory Context

Saudi Arabia's energy efficiency framework operates under the Saudi Product Safety Programme (SALEEM), managed by SASO. The Energy Efficiency Labeling Program sets minimum performance requirements for electric products, with each model requiring registration and licensing on the SASO platform before market entry. The program forms part of Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 initiative to rationalize energy consumption and enhance economic sustainability.

Air conditioning equipment is categorized into two regulatory frameworks: SASO 2663 covers households (window/single split) air conditioners, while SASO 2874 addresses large air conditioners. The current 2025 updates represent a continuation of Saudi Arabia's progressive tightening of energy efficiency requirements, following previous revisions in 2018, 2021, and amendments in 2023.

2. Nature and Scope of the Update

SASO-2663:2025 supersedes SASO 2663:2021/AMD1:2023 and applies to low-capacity window-type and single-split air conditioners with cooling capacities up to and including 65,000 Btu/h (approximately 19 kW). The new regulation introduces enhanced minimum requirements for Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER), replacing or supplementing the previous Energy Efficiency Ratio (EER) metrics.

SASO-2874:2025 supersedes SASO 2874:2016 and addresses air conditioning units exceeding 65,000 Btu/h, including:

• Electrically operated air conditioners, condensing units, chillers, absorption chillers, variable refrigerant flow (VRF) systems, and ceiling/floor-mounted units serving computer rooms

• Products designed for single-phase (220V/230V) or three-phase (380V/400V) circuits at 60 Hz frequency

3. Rationale for the Update

The update serves multiple regulatory objectives:

• Energy Conservation: Tightening MEPS (Minimum Energy Performance Standards) to reduce national electricity consumption

• International Alignment: Harmonization with evolving international standards (ISO, IEC) for air conditioning performance testing

• Market Surveillance: Enhanced verification procedures and tolerance specifications for rated versus tested efficiency values

• Technology Advancement: Promotion of inverter air conditioning systems with dynamic compressor speed adjustment, which achieve higher SEER ratings and lower energy consumption

4. Affected Parties and Compliance Requirements

Manufacturers and Exporters must:

• Conduct performance testing according to updated test methods specified in SASO-2663:2025 and SASO-2874:2025

• Obtain EER certificates from ISO 17025 accredited laboratories

• Register products on the Saudi Label & Standard (SLS) portal

• Update energy efficiency labels to reflect new SEER classifications

Conformity Assessment Bodies (CABs) must:

• Cease issuing Product Certificates of Conformity (P-CoC) and Shipment Certificates of Conformity (S-CoC) for products certified under superseded standards from 1 December 2026

• Verify compliance documentation references the 2025 standard editions

• Conduct product evaluations using the revised technical criteria

Importers and Saudi Market Participants must:

• Ensure incoming shipments carry valid certification under SASO-2663:2025 or SASO-2874:2025

• Plan inventory transitions to avoid stock obsolescence

• Coordinate with suppliers to secure compliant products before the enforcement deadline

Saudi Customs and Market Surveillance will enforce the updated standards at ports of entry from 1 December 2026, with subsequent market and warehouse enforcement likely to follow a phased timeline similar to previous standard transitions.

5. Transitional Provisions and Timeline

Unlike previous SASO energy efficiency updates (which typically provided 3-6 month transition periods for certification cessation), the current notification establishes a single hard cutoff date of 1 December 2026. This suggests:

• Existing P-CoC certificates issued under SASO 2663:2021/AMD1:2023 and SASO 2874:2016 will remain valid until their expiry dates, provided shipments clear customs before 1 December 2026

• No new certifications under the superseded standards will be accepted after the enforcement date

• Products in-transit or warehoused in Saudi Arabia before December 2026 may benefit from grace periods, though this requires clarification from SASO.

Stakeholders should reference historical enforcement patterns: the SASO 2663:2021 implementation featured staggered deadlines for certification cessation (February 2022), certificate termination (March 2022), port enforcement (April 2022), and local market enforcement (July 2022).