Saudi Accreditation Center

What Saudi Accreditation Center does

The Saudi Accreditation Center (SAAC, المركز السعودي للاعتماد) is the sole national accreditation authority in Saudi Arabia, established in 2020 and headquartered in Riyadh under the Ministry of Commerce. SAAC accredits four categories of conformity assessment bodies: laboratories (testing, calibration, medical, biobanks under ISO/IEC 17025, ISO 15189, ISO 17034, ISO/IEC 17043, and ISO 20387), inspection bodies (ISO/IEC 17020), certification bodies (management systems under ISO 9001/14001/22000/45001/13485/27001/50001/22301; product/process/service under ISO/IEC 17065; personnel under ISO/IEC 17024), and halal certification bodies (OIC/SMIIC 2:2019). Supporting services include training and qualification programs, assessor and expert registration, and a National Open Data Platform publishing accreditation data in CSV, XLS, JSON, and XML formats.

Operations are delivered through three dedicated electronic portals: an accreditation request management portal, an assessors and experts portal, and a training and development portal. Service-level targets are 85 days for accreditation grants and renewals, 75 days for scope expansion, and immediate issuance for certificate copies. SAAC has secured international recognition from ILAC (2021 for laboratories and inspection; 2023 for medical laboratories) and from IAF (2024 for management systems; 2025 extending to ISO/IEC 17065 and ISO 27001), making Saudi-accredited certificates mutually recognized across ILAC and IAF member economies. The CEO chairs the Arab Accreditation Cooperation (ARAC, 21 member bodies) and the Islamic Forum for Halal Accreditation Bodies (IFHAB), and serves on the Global ACI Executive Committee from January 2026.

SAAC is a government state entity under the Government of Saudi Arabia, governed by a Board chaired by the Minister of Commerce, and is not a publicly traded or investor-backed company. Revenue is generated primarily through accreditation service fees per a published schedule for conformity assessment bodies, alongside government funding. As of 2026 the center has accredited 971 conformity assessment bodies across 18 fields, works with 575 assessors and experts, has delivered 150 training programs to 3,723 beneficiaries, and has a Digital Transformation Index score of 80.26%. Alignment with Saudi Vision 2030 and quality infrastructure development is the central operating mandate.

Name

Saudi Accreditation Center

Legal name

Saudi Accreditation Center (المركز السعودي للاعتماد)

Website

https://saac.gov.sa

Company type

Private

Founded year

2020

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

The Saudi Accreditation Center (SAAC) is Saudi Arabia's sole national accreditation authority, established in 2020, accrediting laboratories, inspection bodies, certification bodies, and halal certification entities against international standards to support the Kingdom's quality infrastructure and Vision 2030.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Accreditation Services

NAICS

Public Administration (92)

SIC

Services-Business Services, Nec (7389)

akta.pro primary industry

Accreditation Coordination, Recognition & Meta-Accreditation Bodies (EDADACAH)

akta.pro secondary industry

Standards, Metrology & Accreditation Bodies (BPAIAOAC)

Keywords

• Conformity assessment accreditation
• Laboratory accreditation services
• Inspection body accreditation
• Certification body accreditation
• Halal certification accreditation

Headquarters

HQ city

Riyadh

HQ country

Saudi Arabia

HQ region

Middle East

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Accreditation Services Fees: SAAC generates revenue through fees charged to conformity assessment bodies for accreditation services including initial accreditation, renewal, and scope expansion. Fees are governed by the accreditation fee schedule published on the center's website.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

SAAC is the national accreditation authority of Saudi Arabia, providing accreditation services to conformity assessment bodies including testing, calibration, and medical laboratories (per ISO/IEC 17025, ISO 15189, ISO 17034, ISO/IEC 17043, ISO 20387), inspection bodies (per ISO/IEC 17020), certification bodies for management systems, products/processes/services, and personnel, and halal certification bodies (per OIC/SMIIC 2:2019). Supporting offerings include assessor/expert registration and training and qualification programs delivered through dedicated online portals.

Product overview

The Saudi Accreditation Center (SAAC) operates a unified accreditation platform with multiple specialized service modules. The core offering consists of accreditation services for laboratories (testing, calibration, medical, biobanks), inspection bodies, certification bodies (management systems, products, personnel), and halal certification bodies. Supporting modules include training programs for capacity development and assessor/expert registration services. All services are delivered through dedicated online portals for accreditation requests, assessor management, and training, unified under SAAC's quality infrastructure ecosystem aligned with Saudi Vision 2030.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Laboratories Accreditation Service Accreditation service for testing, calibration, and medical laboratories according to international standards including ISO/IEC 17025, ISO 15189, ISO 17034, ISO/IEC 17043, and ISO 20387. Used by government and private sector laboratories in Saudi Arabia to demonstrate competence and gain international recognition.
• Inspection Bodies Accreditation Service Accreditation service for inspection bodies according to ISO/IEC 17020 standard, covering various inspection activities across sectors including environmental, construction, motor vehicle, and safety inspections.
• Certification Bodies Accreditation Service Accreditation service for certification bodies covering management systems (ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 45001, ISO 22000, ISO 50001, ISO 13485, ISO/IEC 27001, ISO 22301), product/process/service certification (ISO/IEC 17065), and personnel certification (ISO/IEC 17024).
• Halal Certification Bodies Accreditation Service Accreditation service for halal certification bodies according to OIC/SMIIC 2:2019 standard, supporting the global halal ecosystem by enhancing the competence and integrity of halal certification entities.
• Training and Qualification Programs Capacity development programs including in-person training, remote training, and self-learning covering laboratory accreditation, inspection bodies, management systems, and quality according to international standards. 150 training programs implemented with 3,723 beneficiaries.
• Assessor and Expert Services Registration and qualification service for assessors and experts (575 active) to participate in evaluation processes of conformity assessment bodies.

Quantifiable outcome

• 971 accredited conformity assessment bodies as of 2026
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers11 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

19 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Saudi Electricity CompanycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 July 2026MoU to strengthen collaboration in accreditation fields and elevate reliability of technical services. SAAC to provide accreditation services for Saudi Electricity Company's diverse operational activities, enabling utilization of accredited laboratories, inspection bodies, and certification entities. Includes knowledge transfer and joint training programs.
• General Authority for Defense Development (GADD)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 12 February 2026Memorandum of Cooperation signed at World Defense Show in Riyadh to enhance collaboration in quality and accreditation, establishing a structured framework for achieving mutual goals supporting Saudi Vision 2030.
• Halal Products Development CompanycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 May 2025Cooperation agreement to achieve integration, unify efforts, and exchange expertise in quality and accreditation. Includes utilizing SAAC-accredited laboratories, inspection bodies, and certification bodies for the company's projects; collaborating on training; and coordinating on halal regulations harmonization.
• King Faisal UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 3 February 2025Cooperation agreement signed at Global Labor Market Conference to enhance joint cooperation in quality and accreditation in line with Saudi Vision 2030 goals.
• King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals (KFUPM)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 November 2024MoU to enhance cooperation in quality and accreditation fields. Includes providing accreditation services to university's laboratories, exchanging expertise, organizing training programs to qualify technicians, and fostering collaboration in research, development, and innovation.
• SPA AcademyminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 October 2024MoU signed at Saudi Press Agency headquarters to achieve integration, unify efforts, exchange expertise, and enhance mutual cooperation in quality and accreditation.
• Riyadh Infrastructure Projects CenterminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 September 2024MoU signed at Saudi Infrastructure Summit to enhance cooperation in quality and accreditation. Includes utilizing accredited laboratories for testing building materials and environmental factors, and providing accredited inspection bodies.
• Weqaa Center (National Center for Prevention and Control of Plant Pests and Animal Diseases)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 12 June 2024MoU to enhance cooperation in quality and accreditation fields, supporting the national quality infrastructure ecosystem.
• Ministry of Municipal, Rural Affairs, and HousingcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 June 2024MoU to develop bilateral cooperation in quality and accreditation and enhance mutual understanding, aiming to achieve Saudi Vision 2030 objectives.
• Ministry of Industry and Mineral ResourcescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 January 2024MoU to develop bilateral cooperation in accreditation assessment and enhance mutual understanding between both parties.
• Ministry of HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 31 October 2023Cooperation agreement with Supply and Engineering Affairs Agency to enhance collaboration in accreditation, inspection, and training. Includes accreditation services for medical laboratories (ISO 15189), testing and calibration laboratories (ISO/IEC 17025), and inspection activities (ISO/IEC 17020).
• National Center for Environmental CompliancecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 September 2023Memorandum of cooperation to enhance cooperation in environmental accreditation and standards, reflecting both entities' commitment to environmental protection and strengthening environmental compliance.
• International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (ILAC)coreOthersSAAC is a signatory to ILAC Mutual Recognition Arrangement (MRA) for testing laboratories, calibration laboratories, inspection bodies, and medical laboratories. ILAC recognition received in 2021 for laboratories and inspection.
• International Accreditation Forum (IAF)coreOthersSAAC is a signatory to IAF Multilateral Recognition Arrangement (MLA) for management systems certification bodies, product/process/service certification bodies. IAF recognition received in 2024.
• Arab Accreditation Cooperation (ARAC)coreOthersSAAC hosts and chairs ARAC, which includes 21 Arab accreditation bodies. Represents comprehensive framework for international mutual recognition in Arab countries.
• Islamic Forum for Halal Accreditation Bodies (IFHAB)coreOthersSAAC hosts and chairs IFHAB, an affiliate of OIC, providing framework for mutual recognition among national accreditation bodies in OIC member states for halal accreditation.
• Asia Pacific Accreditation Cooperation (APAC)minorOthersSAAC participates in APAC activities and meetings, enhancing regional cooperation in accreditation.
• Global Accreditation Cooperation Incorporated (Global ACI)coreOthersSAAC is a member of Global ACI, the unified international accreditation organization established in 2026 merging ILAC and IAF activities.
• Standards and Metrology Institute for Islamic Countries (SMIIC)minorOthersSAAC participates in SMIIC accreditation council, contributing to harmonization of standards among Islamic countries.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Direct peers

• DAkkS (Deutsche Akkreditierungsstelle): Germany's national accreditation body, providing accreditation across laboratories, inspection, and certification bodies under ILAC and IAF frameworks. Comparable as a peer national accreditation authority with a similar scope across conformity assessment bodies.
• UKAS (United Kingdom Accreditation Service): The UK's national accreditation body, offering accreditation services for laboratories, inspection bodies, and certification bodies across similar ISO standards. UKAS is the most established European peer and operates under a comparable government-mandated national accreditation model.
• A2LA (American Association for Laboratory Accreditation): US-based non-profit accreditation body focused primarily on laboratory accreditation across testing, calibration, and medical fields. Directly comparable to SAAC's laboratory accreditation services under ISO/IEC 17025, ISO 15189, and related standards.
• NATA (National Association of Testing Authorities, Australia): Australia's national accreditation body for laboratories, inspection bodies, and reference material producers. Directly comparable as a peer national accreditation authority operating under ILAC MRA with similar conformity assessment scope.
• COFRAC (Comité Français d'Accréditation): France's national accreditation body accredited by ILAC and IAF, providing services across laboratories, inspection, and certification bodies. Comparable as a peer European national accreditation authority with a similar scope.
• ENAC (Entidad Nacional de Acreditación): Spain's national accreditation body, accredited by ILAC and IAF, providing services for laboratories, inspection bodies, and certification bodies. Comparable as a peer national accreditation authority operating a similar scope and recognition framework.
• ANAB (ANSI National Accreditation Board): The US national accreditation body, offering accreditation for management systems, laboratories, inspection bodies, and certification bodies under ILAC and IAF mutual recognition arrangements. Directly comparable as a peer national accreditation authority.

Regional players

• GAC (GCC Accreditation Center): Gulf Cooperation Council accreditation initiative focused on harmonizing accreditation across GCC member states. Comparable as a regional peer operating in the same geographic footprint with overlapping scope in conformity assessment.
• EIAC (Emirates International Accreditation Centre): The UAE's national accreditation body offering accreditation services across laboratories, inspection, and certification bodies. Operates in the same Gulf region as SAAC and is the most direct regional competitor for CABs serving multinational clients in the GCC.

Broad incumbents

• SASO (Saudi Standards, Metrology and Quality Organization): Saudi Arabia's national standards body covering metrology, standards, and quality. Distinct from SAAC (which accredits conformity assessment bodies), but directly relevant as the broader quality infrastructure parent entity whose Governor sits on SAAC's board.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/saacgov
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/saacgov

Compliance7 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles16 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Saudi Accreditation Center