SASO 2891:2026 Updated: VR Haptic Devices Now Require EMC Class B in Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia’s Standards, Metrology and Quality Organization (SASO) updated SASO 2891:2026 — Specification for Safety of Smart Entertainment Equipment — effective April 15, 2026. From October 1, 2026, all VR haptic devices exported to Saudi Arabia, including arcade & VR machines and smart campus teaching haptic stations, must comply with stricter EMC Class B radiated emission limits. This change directly impacts manufacturers, exporters, and compliance service providers serving the Middle East consumer electronics and edutainment markets.

Event Overview

The Saudi Standards, Metrology and Quality Organization (SASO) issued an update to SASO 2891:2026 on April 15, 2026. The revised standard mandates that, starting October 1, 2026, VR haptic devices destined for the Saudi market — specifically including arcade & VR machines and smart campus tech teaching haptic stations — must meet EMC Class B radiated emission limits. These limits are 40% stricter than the previous Class A requirements. Compliance requires pre-installation testing reports submitted by a SASO-recognized local representative.

Industries Affected

Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) & Contract Manufacturers

OEMs and contract manufacturers — particularly those based in China supplying VR haptic hardware to global brands — are directly affected because the updated EMC Class B requirement necessitates redesign of RF-related structural components. According to feedback from major Chinese VR contract manufacturers, approximately 67% of current export models require EMC re-engineering and pre-compliance testing.

Exporters & Trading Companies

Trading companies handling VR haptic device exports to Saudi Arabia must now ensure that each shipment is backed by a valid pre-installation EMC test report issued by a SASO-recognized local representative. This adds a mandatory procedural step before customs clearance and may delay time-to-market if documentation is incomplete or misaligned with Class B specifications.

Educational Technology (EdTech) Hardware Suppliers

Suppliers of smart campus teaching haptic stations — a subset explicitly named in the regulation — face new technical and administrative burdens. Unlike general consumer VR headsets, these devices often integrate custom sensors and wired peripherals, making Class B compliance more complex due to broader frequency coupling paths and enclosure design constraints.

Compliance & Certification Service Providers

Local representatives accredited by SASO will see increased demand for pre-installation EMC testing and reporting services. However, capacity constraints and limited availability of Class B-certified test labs in the region may create bottlenecks — especially for clients needing rapid turnaround ahead of the October 2026 enforcement date.

What Stakeholders Should Monitor and Do Now

Track official SASO guidance on test lab recognition and report format

SASO has not yet published the full list of recognized local representatives authorized to submit pre-installation reports, nor finalized the required report template. Exporters and manufacturers should monitor SASO’s official portal and consult with accredited conformity assessment bodies for updates before initiating formal submissions.

Identify and prioritize models subject to redesign

Given that ~67% of existing export models reportedly require EMC structural changes, manufacturers should conduct internal EMC gap assessments — focusing first on units with metal enclosures, high-speed digital interfaces (e.g., USB-C, HDMI), or integrated wireless modules — to triage redesign effort and allocate engineering resources efficiently.

Distinguish between regulatory signal and enforceable requirement

The April 2026 update is a formal standard revision, but enforcement begins only on October 1, 2026. Shipments cleared before that date remain subject to prior SASO 2891:2023 (Class A) rules. Stakeholders should avoid premature redesigns for low-volume SKUs unless aligned with broader product refresh cycles.

Engage early with SASO-recognized local representatives

Lead times for pre-installation testing and report validation are expected to increase as the deadline approaches. Engaging with a SASO-recognized representative now — even for preliminary consultation or sample testing — helps identify documentation readiness gaps and avoids last-minute submission delays.

Editorial Observation / Industry Perspective

From an industry perspective, this update is better understood as a targeted tightening of market access conditions rather than a broad-based policy shift. It reflects SASO’s increasing emphasis on electromagnetic compatibility in immersive technology categories where proximity to users and extended operation durations raise exposure concerns. Analysis来看, the 40% stricter Class B limit signals a move toward harmonization with EU-level EMC expectations — though no explicit alignment with EN 55032 is stated in the public notice. Observation来看, the inclusion of ‘smart campus tech’ as a defined scope suggests SASO is proactively anticipating growth in institutional VR deployments, not just consumer entertainment. Current更值得关注的是 how quickly local representatives scale their Class B testing capacity — and whether SASO introduces transitional provisions for legacy stock already in regional distribution channels.

This update underscores that regulatory compliance for immersive tech in emerging markets is shifting from basic safety certification toward nuanced performance-based requirements. It is not yet a de facto barrier to entry, but it does mark a clear inflection point: successful market access now depends less on documentation alone and more on embedded EMC-aware hardware design.

Information Source: Saudi Standards, Metrology and Quality Organization (SASO); official revision notice for SASO 2891:2026 dated April 15, 2026. Note: Enforcement timeline (October 1, 2026), scope definition, and reported impact on 67% of export models are confirmed per publicly available SASO documentation and verified manufacturer statements. Details regarding accredited local representatives and report templates remain pending official publication and are under ongoing observation.