Saudi Arabia has announced mandatory USB-C charging for mobiles in the Kingdom.
The Communications, Space and Technology Commission (CST) and the Saudi Standards, Metrology and Quality Organisation (SASO) announced that the first mandatory phase of the unified charging ports for mobile phones and electronic devices in the Saudi market will be effective on January 1 2025
CST and SASO indicated that the unified charging ports decision aims to improve the user experience in Saudi Arabia, reduce extra costs for consumers, deliver high-quality charging and data transfer technology, and enhance the quality of tech products.
Saudi USB-C charging rules
Furthermore, it promotes environmental sustainability and helps achieve reduce electronic waste.
CST and SASO stated that this decision will help reduce the local consumption of charging ports for mobile phones and electronic devices by more than 2.2m units each year.
It is also expected to minimise consumers’ spending in Saudi Arabia by more than SR170 ($45m) annually, which in return supports the Kingdom’s sustainability goals in the tech sector by reducing electronic waste by nearly 15 tons per year.
The first phase will include:
- Mobile phones
- Tablets
- Digital cameras
- E-readers
- Portable video game consoles
- Headphones
- Earphones
- Portable speakers
- Amplified speakers
- Keyboards
- Computer mice
- Portable navigation systems
- Wireless routers
The second phase will commence on April 1, 2026, and will include laptops.
CST and SASO announced the phases of the unified charging ports for new mobile phones and electronic devices in the Saudi market on August 6, 2023, which also require companies and suppliers to adopt the “USB Type-C“ as the unified charging port type, in accordance with the technical and administrative requirements outlined in the relevant technical regulations and standard specifications.
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