On July 24, 2026, the Saudi Standards, Metrology and Quality Organization (SASO) announced the mandatory implementation of SASO IEC 63259-3:2026. This change further moves the market access requirements for photovoltaic cleaning equipment used in desert environments upstream to the certification and testing stages. For equipment manufacturers, exporters, buyers, testing and certification bodies, and parties involved in delivery services, the key concern is not only the standard itself, but also the possibility that subsequent bidding, procurement, inspection, delivery, and after-sales processes will increasingly use “dust and sand protection + energy efficiency performance” as the core compliance criteria.

What requirements have been clarified by this mandatory implementation?

According to the disclosed information, SASO announced the mandatory implementation of SASO IEC 63259-3:2026 on July 24, 2026. The applicable products include photovoltaic cleaning equipment used in desert environments. The new regulation introduces two core requirements: first, the IP6X protection rating in continuous dusty and sandy environments must pass a 120-hour durability test; second, the Cleaning Energy Ratio (CER) of the complete machine must reach or exceed 3.2 kWh/m².

The requirements will take effect on November 1, 2026, and will affect more than 90% of photovoltaic cleaning equipment imports in the Middle East. According to the information provided, HaoFu Machinery has also passed the desert-dust laboratory certification for its first batch of prototypes.

Affected processes are tightening from import to delivery

Exporters and trading companies will first face changes in market access thresholds

From an industry perspective, exporters and trading companies shipping directly to the Middle Eastern market will be affected first, because the new regulation has defined the key conditions for equipment to enter the target market at two levels: dust and sand resistance testing and complete-machine energy-efficiency indicators. The business impact may be concentrated in pre-shipment compliance confirmation, preparation of certification documents, alignment with customer acceptance conditions, and delivery schedule planning. For these companies, the more immediate concerns are whether the equipment has the required testing and certification support, and whether the relevant technical documents can meet the requirements of buyers or inspection scenarios.

Testing requirements need to be moved upstream in manufacturing and system integration

For processing and manufacturing companies and equipment integrators, this regulatory change may affect product design verification, prototype testing arrangements, and document preparation before shipment from the factory. Since the requirements cover both the 120-hour IP6X durability test in continuous dusty and sandy environments and the complete-machine CER indicator, companies may need to prepare the corresponding test results, technical parameter descriptions, and supporting certification materials earlier when handling orders, tenders, or customer technical confirmations. This type of change is more like the upstream integration of compliance into the manufacturing process, rather than merely adding customs declaration or clearance documents.

Buyers and project executors will shift their focus toward verifiable indicators

Buyers, distribution companies, and parties involved in project execution may also be affected, because equipment selection and supplier qualification conditions are likely to focus on verifiable compliance with the applicable standards. In business operations, procurement review, technical comparison, supplier qualification confirmation, and delivery acceptance may all place greater emphasis on whether the requirements corresponding to SASO IEC 63259-3:2026 are satisfied. For these parties, the focus should not be limited to price and lead time; test reports, certification status, and whether the technical documentation can support subsequent delivery and acceptance procedures are also important.

The importance of testing, certification, and after-sales processes is also increasing

Certification-related companies, testing service organizations, and after-sales service providers will also be included in the scope of this change. The former will directly undertake more work related to testing in dusty and sandy environments and confirmation of compliance with the standard, while the latter may face more requirements concerning operating-environment adaptability and performance traceability after equipment delivery. It can be observed that when market access conditions shift from general performance descriptions to clearly defined indicators, test reports, certification records, and quality traceability documents will play a more prominent role throughout the entire chain.

Practical changes that require closer attention at this stage

First verify whether equipment already for sale or awaiting export meets the new requirements

For relevant companies, the most immediate task is to verify whether existing products, current orders, or equipment intended for export already meet the requirements for a 120-hour IP6X durability test in continuous dusty and sandy environments and a CER of no less than 3.2 kWh/m². If these requirements have not yet been covered, subsequent certification arrangements, customer communications, and delivery plans may need to be reassessed.

Technical and certification documents should be completed as early as possible

Analysis indicates that the preparation of compliance documents and technical documentation will be a key part of actual implementation. Companies should focus on whether test reports, certification materials, technical parameter descriptions, prototype test records, and documents related to technical agreements with customers correspond to one another. If subsequent tender documents or procurement terms reference this standard, document completeness may directly affect the progress of bidding and delivery.

Delivery lead times and procurement schedules may be affected simultaneously

Since the new regulation has specified an implementation date, procurement plans, supplier changes, and prototype testing schedules for this type of equipment all require advance attention. The information currently provided does not specify more detailed implementation procedures. Therefore, it should not be understood that all processes have been fully standardized. However, it is reasonable to determine that certification and testing arrangements may impose practical constraints on delivery times, inventory preparation, and order confirmation.

Prioritize the implementation approach rather than making excessive assumptions about the outcome

At present, continued attention should be paid to subsequent official statements, certification implementation procedures, how the standard is referenced in procurement documents, and feedback from companies regarding actual testing and acceptance. In particular, before the standard enters the implementation stage, market participants should avoid treating details that have not yet been clarified as established rules. Instead, they should focus on the confirmed testing requirements and implementation date.

This is more like a clear implementation signal

This information is more appropriately understood as a change in market access rules with a clearly specified implementation date, rather than as an issue remaining at the stage of public consultation or directional discussion. The reason is that the mandatory standard, specific testing items, quantitative thresholds, and implementation date have all been provided. This means that relevant market participants need to incorporate compliance assessments into their actual business arrangements as soon as possible.

At the same time, whether this change will further extend to more detailed tender clauses, acceptance methods, and supplier classification criteria still requires continued observation. The information provided indicates that it will affect more than 90% of photovoltaic cleaning equipment imports in the Middle East. However, the specific implementation details, documentation requirements, and market feedback cannot yet be presented as definitive results at this stage.

Practical implications for market participants

Overall, the core significance of this information does not lie in the addition of an abstract standard name, but in the fact that Saudi Arabia’s compliance requirements for photovoltaic operation and maintenance equipment have been more clearly translated into two quantifiable indicators: dust and sand resistance and complete-machine energy efficiency. For relevant companies, it is currently more appropriate to understand this as a signal that the rules are entering a preparation window: the implementation date and scope of impact are clear, while the specific implementation procedures and market feedback still require continuous monitoring.

Basis of this article and directions for further verification

This article was generated based on the information title, event date, and event summary provided by the user. The information used includes only SASO’s announcement on July 24, 2026, of the mandatory implementation of SASO IEC 63259-3:2026; the two core testing and energy-efficiency requirements; the implementation date of November 1, 2026; the stated impact on photovoltaic cleaning equipment imports in the Middle East; and the information that HaoFu Machinery passed desert-dust laboratory certification for its first batch of prototypes.

For events of this type, subsequent verification should generally continue by consulting official announcements, publications by regulatory authorities, documents issued by standards organizations, information from trade authorities, industry association information, and reports from authoritative media. Since no specific official source links were provided in the input, the relevant original documents and implementation details still require further confirmation. Areas that merit continued observation include certification implementation procedures, changes to tender documents, testing and acceptance requirements, industry feedback, and the actual implementation situation of companies.