Saudi Arabia’s New Air Conditioner Standard

From 1 December 2026, the updated requirements in SASO 2663:2025 and SASO 2874:2025 will apply at Saudi factories and customs entry points, according to the published overview of the new requirements and implementation plan. For buyers, the most important change is that seasonal efficiency will no longer be only a way to rank air conditioners. Each product category will have a minimum requirement, with clearer distinctions between fixed-speed and variable-speed split systems, and between ducted and ductless systems.

That does not mean SEER is appearing for the first time, or that you need to replace an air conditioner you already own. Saudi Arabia has used SEER on the energy label for small air conditioners since the 2021 standard. What changes in 2025 is its role: SEER moves from being a rating and comparison tool to becoming a minimum condition for new products entering the market, while EER testing at T1 and T3 conditions remains in place.

The short answer is that the new standards will raise the market floor and exclude products that fail to meet the minimum for their category. They will not, however, choose the best air conditioner for you. Once compliance is confirmed, you still need to compare the right capacity, system type, published annual consumption and the way the room is actually used. This is where Zamil adds value: not simply by selling a unit with an energy label, but by turning the label into a decision that suits the home and lowers its running cost for years.

WHAT IS ACTUALLY CHANGING, AND WHO WILL IT AFFECT?

There is a difference between the date a standard takes effect and the date every unit in a showroom must disappear. SASO's plan applies from 1 December 2026 at local factories and customs, while energy-efficiency certificates issued under the previous editions are cancelled on 29 November 2026. Products already in the Saudi market remain valid under their existing licences and certificates. In other words, do not read the deadline as an immediate ban on showroom stock or an instruction to replace the air conditioner already installed in your home.

Before the update	Under the 2025 standards	What it means for you
SEER used to rate efficiency and calculate seasonal consumption	A mandatory minimum SEER for each product category	Passing one full-load test will no longer be enough
One requirement covered ducted and non-ducted split systems	Separate requirements for ducted and non-ducted systems	Compare every system within the correct category
No separate minimum for fixed- and variable-speed systems	Separate treatment by compressor staging and speed	Do not rely on the word "inverter" alone
EER limits in place at T1 and T3	Updated EER limits, with both T1 and T3 tests retained	Extreme-heat performance still matters

SASO's workshop deck explains the direction of the new requirements and includes an illustrative table, but it also states that the presentation is not the official standard. We therefore do not reproduce those figures as if they were the final regulatory text. Before any threshold is published, it must be checked against the approved text of SASO 2663:2025 or SASO 2874:2025 through Wasif, SASO's standards service, with the table number, clause and capacity range recorded for every value.

WHICH STANDARD APPLIES TO THE AIR CONDITIONER YOU ARE BUYING?

SASO 2663:2025 is the standard most relevant to a residential buyer. Within its scope, it covers lower-capacity window and single-split air conditioners. SASO 2874:2025 addresses a broader range of larger and specialised systems, including certain packaged systems, VRF, chillers and computer-room air conditioners. The distinction cannot be reduced to capacity alone, because the type of system and the way it is tested also determine which standard applies.

If you are buying a unit for a bedroom or majlis, start with Zamil split air conditioners and compare models at the same capacity. If you are planning an under-construction villa or a large area cooled through air ducts, move to ducted split air conditioners and ask the designer to define the cooling loads and zones before selecting the unit.

SEER IS NOT NEW, BUT ITS ROLE IS CHANGING

To understand the change, separate four figures that answer four different questions. EER at T1 measures efficiency under a standard test condition. EER at T3 measures efficiency at a higher outdoor temperature that is more representative of summer in the region. SEER measures efficiency across a full season as temperatures and cooling loads change. Published annual consumption, in kilowatt-hours, turns the test result into a figure that is easier to compare from one unit to another.

Figure	The question it answers	How to use it
EER at T1	How much cooling does the unit deliver under the standard test condition?	Check full-load efficiency
EER at T3	How well does the unit retain its efficiency in extreme heat?	Important in hotter Saudi cities
SEER	How efficient is it across a season with changing loads?	Compare units of the same type and capacity
Annual consumption	How many kilowatt-hours does it use under the test profile?	The quickest route to comparing running cost

A higher SEER means more seasonal cooling for every unit of electricity, provided you are comparing air conditioners in the same category and at the same capacity. It is not a direct forecast of your bill. Actual consumption changes with operating hours, thermostat setting, insulation, solar gain, occupancy, filter condition and installation quality.

WHAT DOES SEER MEAN FOR YOUR BILL IN RIYALS?

Instead of trying to convert SEER into money through a theoretical formula, use the annual consumption shown on the product page or energy label. Subtract the lower figure from the higher one, then multiply the difference by the electricity tariff that applies to your home. This compares the electricity your household will actually pay for—not the claims printed on the box.

Take two Zamil models at roughly one ton. The product page for the Classic Split Inverter 12,100 BTU lists annual consumption of 2,933 kWh, compared with 4,084 kWh for the regular Zamil 12,400 model. That is a difference of 1,151 kWh a year, or about 28% lower consumption for the inverter in the published test. At a tariff of 18 halalas per kWh, the difference is worth approximately SAR 207 a year before VAT, and more if the household moves into the higher consumption tier.

This example shows both what the new standards will do and what they will not do. They set a minimum that every unit must clear within its category, but they do not make all compliant products equal. Two fully compliant air conditioners may still differ materially in annual energy use and lifetime cost.

WHY SEPARATE INVERTER FROM FIXED-SPEED, AND DUCTED FROM DUCTLESS?

A fixed-speed compressor normally runs at full output and then stops. An inverter or multi-stage compressor can reduce its output when the room needs less cooling. A full-load test on its own does not capture the value of this behaviour during the many hours when the unit operates at part load. That is why the seasonal minimum now differs according to the way the compressor works.

The same principle applies to ducted systems. A wall-mounted split delivers air directly into the room. In a ducted system, air passes through ducts and outlets, and the fan must overcome airflow resistance. Duct design, insulation, length, leakage and fan-speed settings can all change how much cooling reaches the room. Comparing the rating of a ducted split with a wall-mounted split without accounting for category is therefore not a fair comparison.

THE STANDARDS RAISE THE MARKET FLOOR, BUT THEY DO NOT CHOOSE THE BEST AIR CONDITIONER FOR YOU

Meeting the minimum means a product qualifies within its category. It does not mean it is the most efficient choice or the least expensive to own over ten years. Nor do the standards address everything that happens after a unit leaves the factory. An efficient air conditioner that is oversized for the room may cycle poorly. An excellent ducted unit connected to uninsulated ducts may lose cooling before the air reaches the space. And a model that is right on paper may consume more energy if its filter remains clogged.

The buying journey should therefore move beyond a single question—"What is its rating?"—and become a decision system. This is where Zamil can serve as the reference point for cooling: explaining what the standards mean, publishing model data, guiding customers to the right capacity and system, and then providing the product and service as one connected journey.

ZAMIL'S METHOD FOR CHOOSING AN AIR CONDITIONER: FOUR MATCHES BEFORE PRICE

1. Match the system to how the space is used

A separate room used at set times will usually benefit from independent control, making a split air conditioner a logical starting point. An open-plan living area or a villa under construction may be better suited to a ducted split, provided the ducts and zones are designed correctly. Start with how the space will be used—not with the appearance of the indoor unit.

2. Match capacity to the cooling load

Do not oversize "just in case" or undersize simply to reduce the purchase price. Start with Zamil's air conditioner capacity calculator by entering the room dimensions, then account for sun exposure, insulation, ceiling height and how the room is used. Larger spaces and ducted projects need a professional load calculation that goes beyond floor area alone.

3. Match the model to its official energy label

Check the complete model number on both the unit and its label. A series name may cover several capacities and versions. Review the efficiency category, SEER, annual consumption and cooling data, then scan the label's code or search for the model in the Taqakkad app to confirm that the information belongs to that exact unit.

4. Match the price difference to the years of use

Consider purchase, installation, electricity and maintenance together. A modest price difference may pay for itself within a few years when a unit runs every day, yet may never do so in a majlis opened for only a few hours each month. The right choice is neither the cheapest unit at checkout nor the largest number on the label. It is the lowest total cost of delivering the comfort you need over the life of the air conditioner.

SHOULD YOU BUY NOW OR WAIT UNTIL DECEMBER 2026?

If your air conditioner needs replacing, there is no financial rule that says you must wait. A model available today with a verified label and low annual consumption may be better than one entering the market after the deadline and only just clearing the new minimum. If the purchase is for a project still at the design stage and approval can be delayed, however, it is reasonable to ask the supplier which edition of the standard each model was registered against and when its certificate was issued.

After December 2026, do not assume every new unit performs equally. Look for performance beyond the minimum, then apply the four matches above. You can also use Zamil's air conditioner buying guide to understand system types and capacities before comparing models and prices.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Will I need to replace my existing air conditioner in December 2026?

No. The implementation plan applies to local factories and customs entry points for new products. It does not require consumers to replace equipment already installed in their homes.

Will all older air conditioners be banned from sale after the deadline?

Not in those terms. SASO's plan indicates that products already in the market remain valid under their existing licences and certificates, so older stock may still be available after the deadline.

Is SEER new to the Saudi air conditioner energy label?

No. SEER entered the 2021 standard as a measure for efficiency rating and seasonal performance. The change in the 2025 standards is the addition of a mandatory minimum SEER for each product category.

Does a higher SEER always mean a lower electricity bill?

It indicates higher seasonal efficiency when comparable units are tested under the same method. Your actual bill will also depend on capacity, operating hours, insulation, temperature, thermostat setting and installation quality.

Does every inverter air conditioner outperform a fixed-speed model?

Do not decide from the name alone. Compare SEER and annual consumption between units of the same type and capacity, then consider the price difference and how long the unit will run.

Is meeting the new minimum all that matters?

Compliance is the entry point to the market, not the highest level of efficiency. Two compliant models may still differ in annual consumption, noise, features, warranty and running cost.

Do the standards guarantee an efficient duct installation?

No. Unit efficiency is tested under defined conditions, while duct design, insulation, air leakage and outlet distribution remain matters of project design and installation.

What is the easiest figure to use when calculating savings?

Take the difference in annual kWh consumption between two comparable units and multiply it by the electricity tariff that applies to your home. Use SEER to confirm the direction of efficiency, not as a standalone prediction of your bill.