The Saudi Arabia market for Indian non-basmati rice
Saudi Arabia: the importer registers the establishment and each product on SFDA's Ghad platform; FASAH clearance needs certificate of origin, invoice showing batch and expiry, health/phytosanitary certificate as applicable; Arabic labelling per SFDA.FD/GSO 9. Sona Masoori and Ponni sell through GCC diaspora retail; parboiled long grain goes to labour-camp catering.
Indian community in Saudi Arabia (Ministry of External Affairs estimate): 2,750,551 (NRI 2,747,551 + PIO 3,000) — largest NRI population worldwide.
Non-Basmati Rice specification for Saudi Arabia orders
| Parameter | Typical export value |
|---|---|
| Broken | 5% (premium), 15%, 25% or 100% broken grades (typical trade grades) |
| Moisture | ≤ 13-14% (typical) |
| Average grain length | IR-64 about 5.8-6.2 mm; Sona Masoori about 5.0-5.2 mm (typical) |
| Chalky grains | ≤ 5-6% (typical) |
| Damaged / discoloured | ≤ 1-2% (typical) |
| Foreign matter | ≤ 0.1-0.5% (typical) |
Final values are agreed per contract and checked against the Saudi Arabia requirements below, then confirmed by lab report or pre-shipment inspection.
Import requirements in Saudi Arabia
| Requirement | Regulator | Document / registration |
|---|---|---|
| Importer & product registration | SFDA | Ghad establishment registration (5 yrs) + product registration |
| Clearance documents | SFDA via FASAH | CoO, invoice (qty, expiry, batch), B/L, health cert, phytosanitary cert, halal cert, import permit (poultry/fish/eggs) |
| Arabic labelling | SFDA | SFDA.FD/GSO 9; GSO 150-1 expiry; SFDA.FD 2233 nutrition |
General guidance as of November 2026. Confirm with your customs broker or the regulator before shipping. Final regulatory decisions require professional verification.
Shipping non-basmati rice to Saudi Arabia
Typical sea transit Jawaharlal Nehru Port (Nhava Sheva) → Dammam: 6-10 days. Often via Jebel Ali transhipment; FASAH/SABER docs must be in place before arrival
Supply window: Indian non-basmati rice is mainly produced or harvested Paddy harvest Oct-Nov; new-crop shipments Nov-Mar (ASSUMPTION - general crop calendar); Kharif harvest Oct-Dec; rabi Mar-May (ASSUMPTION). Allow 6-10 days at sea plus 5–10 days for inspection, export clearance and Saudi Arabia customs when you set delivery dates.
Container loading (estimate): 20' about 24-26 MT in 25-50 kg bags, 40' HC about 26-27 MT (weight-limited).
Quoted on FOB, CFR, CIF, FAS; CIF Dammam is the common choice for first orders.
Where buyers are in Saudi Arabia
| City | Port / airport | Buyer sectors |
|---|---|---|
| Riyadh | Inland; King Abdulaziz Port Dammam (east) / Jeddah Islamic Port (west); Riyadh Dry Port ra | government & mega-project contractors (construction materials, Indian/South Asian grocery chains, textile & garment wholesalers |
| Mecca | Inland (~80 km); Jeddah Islamic Port · King Abdulaziz International Jeddah (JED) | pilgrim hotels & catering (rice, dates/food retail, pulses |
| Dammam | King Abdulaziz Port, Dammam (Arabian Gulf; largest Saudi Gulf-coast port) · King Fahd Inte | Indian grocery/food distributors, oil & gas contractors (industrial supplies, valves |
| Khobar | King Abdulaziz Port Dammam (adjacent) · King Fahd International Dammam (DMM) | expatriate retail & HORECA, Indian grocery, Aramco-contractor supply |
Frequently asked questions
What do I need to import non-basmati rice into Saudi Arabia?
Key requirements: Importer & product registration — SFDA (Ghad establishment registration (5 yrs) + product registration); Clearance documents — SFDA via FASAH (CoO, invoice (qty, expiry, batch), B/L, health cert, phytosanitary cert, halal cert, import permit (poultry/fish/eggs)); Arabic labelling — SFDA (SFDA.FD/GSO 9; GSO 150-1 expiry; SFDA.FD 2233 nutrition). Your customs broker confirms the full list for your HS line.
How long does shipping from India to Saudi Arabia take?
Typically 6-10 days port-to-port from Jawaharlal Nehru Port (Nhava Sheva) to Dammam, plus 5–10 days for stuffing, export clearance and destination clearance (estimates).
Does Saudi Arabia have a trade agreement with India?
No bilateral FTA. India–GCC FTA: terms of reference finalised, negotiations ongoing [S7]. Saudi applies GCC common external tariff (5% most goods) A preferential certificate of origin is needed to claim any reduced duty.
Which HS code applies to non-basmati rice from India?
Usually HS 100630. Saudi Arabia applies its own national tariff extension to the 6-digit code; confirm the full line with your broker.
What is the difference between Sona Masoori and IR-64?
Sona Masoori is a lightweight, aromatic medium grain from south India sold mainly to diaspora retail; IR-64 is a long-grain variety exported raw or parboiled as a staple rice, mainly to Africa and Asia.
Which broken percentages can you offer?
Standard trade grades are 5%, 15%, 25% and 100% broken; tighter specifications can be milled to order.
Do non-basmati exports need registration?
Yes. Since 24 September 2025 each non-basmati export contract must be registered with APEDA before shipment (DGFT Notification 33/2025-26).
Related guides
Request a quote: non-basmati rice to Saudi Arabia
Tell us grade, quantity and your port in Saudi Arabia. We quote CIF/CFR with the destination documents listed above.