Air-conditioner manufacturers, importers, and exporters operating in Saudi Arabia must comply with updated national quality and energy efficiency standards before their products can be sold in the local market. The requirement covers energy efficiency licenses and the Gulf Conformity Mark for all units placed on the Saudi market.
Two updated standards now apply: SASO-2663:2025 for small-capacity window and single-split air conditioners, and SASO-2874:2025 for large-capacity units. Both cover minimum energy performance, labelling, and testing requirements. They replace earlier editions and introduce stricter thresholds, including SEER-based criteria and higher EER requirements for T3 window-type units.
Key dates
Mandatory enforcement of the 2025 standards begins on 1 December 2026. After that date, non-compliant products cannot obtain energy efficiency or conformity certification for entry into the market. As of 29 November 2026, all energy efficiency certificates issued under the previous standards become invalid, though units already circulating in the market before that date may continue to be sold.
Applications for energy-efficiency registration of small-capacity air conditioners under the new standard can be submitted from 1 December 2025. For large-capacity units, an updated registration system is planned around March 2026.
To comply, manufacturers must perform performance tests using the updated methods, obtain EER and efficiency test reports from ISO/IEC 17025-accredited laboratories recognized for the relevant testing, and register products on the Saudi labels and standards (SLS) portal for energy-efficiency labelling and market access.
For residents and businesses, the move means air conditioners sold in the Kingdom will meet higher efficiency benchmarks — a change expected to reduce electricity consumption and cooling costs over time, particularly given the country's heavy reliance on air conditioning during the summer months.
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