What it takes to sell Malaysian-made halal cosmetics and functional wellness products in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates: the Saudi product listing, the UAE conformity certificate, and where JAKIM halal certification fits.
Disclosure: This article is published by ORIZI Group and may refer to our own manufacturing experience, services and capabilities. External factual claims are supported by cited sources.
Key takeaways
- Saudi Arabia: a cosmetic cannot be imported or traded until it is listed with the Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA).
- UAE: cosmetics fall under MOIAT’s federal Emirates Conformity Assessment Scheme (ECAS); Dubai adds Dubai Municipality product registration.
- Halal: the SFDA and JAKIM signed a memorandum on mutual recognition of halal certificates in May 2023; in the UAE, halal certificates come from MOIAT-registered bodies.
- Lock the formula first: in Saudi Arabia, an ingredient or concentration change means a new notification, not an update.
What this guide covers
This guide covers Malaysian-made cosmetics and personal care for Saudi Arabia and the UAE, plus powder functional food, as of October 2026. It goes deeper than the Gulf rows of our cosmetic export requirements by country reference. An SFDA listing is the entry in Saudi Arabia’s cosmetic products register that allows a product to be imported and traded. ECAS is the UAE’s federal conformity certification for products covered by UAE technical regulations.
Can Malaysian halal products be sold in the UAE and Saudi Arabia?
Yes, provided the product passes each market’s entry steps. Both markets regulate through the local party that places the product on the market; the Malaysian manufacturer supplies a complete, consistent file.
| Step | Saudi Arabia | United Arab Emirates |
|---|---|---|
| Regulator | SFDA | MOIAT (federal) plus emirate authorities such as Dubai Municipality |
| Pre-market step | Product listing (notification) in the SFDA’s Unified Electronic System (GHAD) | ECAS Certificate of Conformity; emirate product registration where required |
| Who files | A Saudi notifier with a commercial registration, authorised by a notarised letter from the manufacturer or brand owner | A holder of a valid UAE trade or industry licence (importer, distributor or manufacturer) |
| Validity | Listing certificate valid five years; renew at least 90 days before expiry | One year per ECAS certificate, as stated by a MOIAT-notified certification body |
| Halal layer | Saudi Halal Center; SFDA–JAKIM mutual recognition memorandum (2023) | MOIAT-registered halal certification bodies (Cabinet Decision No. 10 of 2014) |
What does Saudi Arabia require before a cosmetic is imported?
The SFDA’s Implementing Regulation of the Cosmetic Products Law is direct: a cosmetic product will not be imported or traded in Saudi Arabia until it is listed by the Authority and has a listing certificate. Current SFDA guidance runs this through GHAD.
- Set up the notifier. The Saudi party opens a GHAD account with a commercial registration covering cosmetics activities, plus a notarised authorisation for the person who files.
- Authorise from the manufacturer side. The SFDA asks for a notarised authorisation letter from the manufacturer or the entity the products are imported from — or a contract manufacturing agreement — on letterhead, signed and stamped.
- Enter the product. Label artwork, a product photo for publication, and every ingredient with its concentration and role. The notifier answers for the accuracy of this data.
- Check label and claims. Labels follow SFDA.CO/GSO 1943 and claims follow SFDA.CO/GSO 2528. Each size, colour or variant carries its own barcode, and the label should not mention the notification.
- Ship with a Certificate of Conformity. Each consignment needs a Certificate of Conformity issued through the Fasah platform by a conformity body approved by the SFDA.
- Maintain the listing. The SFDA decides on a complete application within 15 days; renewal is filed at least 90 days before the certificate expires.
The notifier also carries ongoing duties: product safety, a product information file (to SFDA.CO 6000:2020) produced on request, and reporting harm, manufacturing errors or recalls in any country. The SFDA states that its marketing notification is not proof that a product has been evaluated or approved.
What does the UAE require for cosmetics?
The UAE works in two layers. At federal level, MOIAT’s ECAS service certifies products subject to UAE technical regulations, and MOIAT-notified certification bodies list cosmetics and personal care within their ECAS scope. MOIAT’s service page asks the applicant for:
- a valid UAE trade or industry licence — so the applicant is the UAE importer or distributor, not the Malaysian factory;
- a test report on the product from an accredited laboratory;
- an online declaration of conformity continuity;
- fees of AED 500 for technical review and AED 2,500 for issuing the certificate (as listed in October 2026).
At emirate level, products sold in Dubai are registered with Dubai Municipality through its Montaji system. In the UAE, a local licence holder files every certificate and registration; the overseas factory supplies the evidence. Confirm the current Dubai Municipality checklist with your importer before artwork is final.
Is JAKIM halal certification accepted in Saudi Arabia and the UAE?
For Saudi Arabia there is a direct government-to-government link: on 28 May 2023 the SFDA and JAKIM signed a memorandum covering mutual recognition of halal certificates issued by the Saudi Halal Center and by JAKIM for products manufactured in each country and exported between the two. For food, SFDA clearance rules require a halal certificate from a body designated by the Saudi Halal Center where the product needs one — for example components such as gelatine, animal fats, rennet or meat derivatives — and whenever the label carries a halal logo.
In the UAE, Cabinet Decision No. 10 of 2014 sets the halal control system: establishments obtain halal certificates for final products and raw materials from certification bodies registered by MOIAT. MOIAT also lists a halal standard for cosmetics and personal care, UAE.S 2055-4, and an optional UAE Halal National Mark. Ask your importer to confirm on MOIAT’s register that your certifier is accepted for your category before a halal claim goes on the UAE label.
| Question | Saudi Arabia | UAE |
|---|---|---|
| Who issues accepted halal certificates? | Bodies designated by the Saudi Halal Center; JAKIM certificates under the 2023 SFDA–JAKIM memorandum | Halal certification bodies registered by MOIAT |
| Cosmetics | Clearance centres on the listing and Certificate of Conformity; halal documents support a halal claim | UAE.S 2055-4 sets halal requirements for cosmetics and personal care |
| Food and wellness | Halal certificate where the clearance conditions require one, or where a halal logo is used | Halal certificates for final products and raw materials |
Which documents should the Malaysian manufacturer prepare?
Gulf launches run smoothly when the importer gets a complete file on day one. Our guide to cosmetic export documents explained covers each document in detail.
| Document | Why the Gulf partner needs it |
|---|---|
| Full ingredient list (INCI) with concentrations and function | SFDA notification data; screening against Gulf prohibited and restricted lists |
| Label artwork with an Arabic panel | SFDA label review; UAE registration |
| Notarised authorisation letter or contract manufacturing agreement | Required for the SFDA notification |
| Test report from an accredited laboratory | UAE ECAS application; Saudi shipment conformity |
| Product information file (safety, stability, specifications) | The Saudi notifier must produce it on request |
| GMP and halal certificates | Importer due diligence; support for halal claims |
| Certificate of Free Sale | Listed in Saudi Halal Center applications; NPRA issues it for notified cosmetics |
What about wellness products such as drink powders and sachets?
Powder functional food follows food rules. In Saudi Arabia, the SFDA’s food clearance conditions call for a halal certificate where the product requires one, a halal slaughter certificate for meat, poultry and raw gelatine, and proof behind any halal logo on the label. In the UAE, the same Cabinet Decision No. 10 of 2014 halal system applies to food. Within ORIZI Group, powder functional food and supplements are made by D&O Nutraceutical Manufacturing Sdn. Bhd. (JAKIM Halal since 2020; US FDA-registered food facility under FSMA since 2025), and liquid functional beverages in sachet by Nutrizens Wellness Sdn. Bhd. (JAKIM Halal since 2025). Capsule and tablet supplements may fall into a food or a supplement category depending on the Gulf country. See food and supplement export requirements by country and our electrolyte powder export catalogue for Amazon and the Gulf.
ORIZI perspective: build the Gulf file before the formula is locked
Based on ORIZI Group’s export manufacturing work, the step that saves the most time on Gulf projects is freezing three things before the importer files: the formula (because an ingredient or concentration change in Saudi Arabia means a new notification), the Arabic label panel, and the halal paperwork. Cosmetics are made by Dr Orizi (M) Sdn. Bhd., which holds JAKIM Halal (since 2015), ISO 22716 (since 2022) and NPRA cosmetic GMP (since 2024), and has been a MATRADE registered member since 2014. We run the destination screen while the product is still on the bench and supply the ingredient table with concentrations and functions as the SFDA notification asks. The Saudi notifier and the UAE licence holder file and hold the registrations.
The Gulf style already sells at home: in Malaysia, “lattafa perfumes” averaged 3,600 searches a month, “oud perfume” 1,600 and “arabian perfume” 1,300 (Google Keyword Planner, Malaysia, July 2025–June 2026). For brands selling Arabian-style fragrance, the Gulf is a logical next market — alcohol-based perfume transport rules are covered in sea freight vs air freight.
Risks, limitations and common mistakes
- Changing the formula after notification. In Saudi Arabia, a new ingredient, concentration, brand name, product name, manufacturer or purpose of use requires a new notification.
- Advertising early. Saudi rules do not allow a cosmetic to be advertised or promoted before it is listed.
- Assuming one halal certificate covers every claim. Check the certifier against MOIAT’s register for the UAE and the Saudi Halal Center’s designation for Saudi food products.
- Planning on old portals. SFDA cosmetic notification now runs through GHAD; confirm current steps with your importer before production.
- Scope limit. Import duties, VAT and free-zone set-up are not covered here.
FAQ
Is JAKIM halal certification recognised in Saudi Arabia?
There is a formal basis for it. The SFDA and JAKIM signed a memorandum in May 2023 covering mutual recognition of halal certificates for products manufactured in each country and exported between them. Confirm with your Saudi importer how it applies to your product category.
Do I need a separate halal certificate for the UAE?
It depends on the certifier. UAE halal certificates must come from a certification body registered by MOIAT under Cabinet Decision No. 10 of 2014, so ask your importer to confirm that your certifier is accepted for your category before a halal claim is printed.
Who registers my cosmetic in Saudi Arabia — the factory or the importer?
The Saudi notifier files in the SFDA’s GHAD system, authorised by a notarised letter from the manufacturer or brand owner. The Malaysian factory supplies the data and documents.
How long is an SFDA cosmetic listing valid?
Five years under the Implementing Regulation of the Cosmetic Products Law, with renewal filed at least 90 days before expiry. The SFDA decides on a complete application within 15 days.
Can one formula be sold in both the UAE and Saudi Arabia?
Often yes, if it is screened against both markets’ ingredient rules and the label carries the Arabic data each requires. Lock the formula before filing.
Sources & references
- SFDA — Implementing Regulation of the Cosmetic Products Law — listing before import, five-year certificate, 15-day decision, notifier duties, no advertising before listing
- SFDA — Guidance and Requirements of Cosmetic Product Notification (PDF) — GHAD filing, documents, GSO 1943 and 2528, changes needing a new notification, 90-day renewal
- SFDA — Conditions of Cosmetic Products Clearance (PDF) — Certificate of Conformity per shipment via Fasah
- SFDA — Conditions and Requirements for Food Clearance (PDF) — halal certificates for food from Saudi Halal Center–designated bodies
- SFDA news, 28 May 2023 — SFDA–JAKIM memorandum on mutual recognition of halal certificates
- MOIAT — Issue Conformity Certificates for Regulated Products (ECAS) — applicant documents and fees
- MOIAT — UAE Halal — Cabinet Decision No. 10 of 2014, registered certification bodies, UAE.S 2055-4, optional Halal National Mark
- TÜV Rheinland — UAE MOIAT ECAS certification — notified body listing cosmetics in ECAS scope; one-year validity
- Dubai Municipality — Montaji product registration portal — emirate-level product registration in Dubai
- JAKIM — Halal Malaysia portal — Malaysian halal certification authority
Update history: October 2026 — first published.
Planning a launch in Saudi Arabia or the UAE? Start with our halal export markets overview or send us your product and destination for a market and documentation screen before production.
