Before Advertising a Beverage in Saudi Arabia: Preparing the SFDA Submission

Before promoting a juice, tea or ready-to-drink coffee to consumers in Saudi Arabia, check that the food is registered or listed as applicable and obtain Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) approval for the proposed advertisement. The SFDA's advertising guidance and official notice distinguish product registration from approval of the promotional creative.

Define the campaign and responsible advertiser

Identify the Saudi-facing advertiser, local distributor or account holder, the registered product, the target audience and every proposed channel. The SFDA advertising guide, version 5 covers locally produced and imported foods advertised in Saudi Arabia, including promotional messages aimed at Saudi consumers from abroad. Television, catalogues, websites, social media and influencer videos may all fall within scope.

Record the campaign owner, agency, platforms, planned dates and which account holder will submit and retain the licence. Confirm that the applicant can access the relevant registered products. The SFDA guide clarifies that the company owning the product bears responsibility for advertising violations, rather than shifting that responsibility to the advertising agency. SFDA guide, FAQ 13

A brand's general product information should not automatically be treated as a licensed Saudi campaign. The decision depends on the actual promotional message, audience and channel, rather than the name of the website alone.

Match each creative to the registered beverage

Use the exact Saudi-market product record, flavour, formulation, pack and label version. The SFDA guide requires truthful, substantiated information, product pictures consistent with the actual marketed food, and no misleading ingredient or benefit claims. Advertising must not misuse SFDA's name or logo, disparage other products or present unauthorised health or nutrition claims.

Arabic is the core advertising language. Additional languages may accompany it when their content matches the Arabic version. Review voice-over, on-screen text, subtitles, captions, visual cues and landing-page claims together.

If a single creative features several registered flavours, identify each product for the application and fee calculation. A generic claim such as “supports immunity” should not be inserted simply because the drink contains fruit or vitamins. Verify claims and final product facts before the advertiser submits the file.

Prepare the electronic application and evidence

The SFDA's January 2026 advertising-service user guide describes a unified external portal using the applicant's Ghad credentials. The applicant selects its account and food services, starts the advertising service, adds the advertisement, selects registered products, enters campaign details and licence duration, accepts the terms and pays the fee. Food advertising licences are then issued through the direct-approval workflow.

The SFDA food-advertising service lists SAR 250 per product with a registration number in an advertisement. Check the live portal's product selection, fee and invoice before payment, especially for multi-product creatives. Direct electronic issuance does not independently substantiate the advertisement's claims. The older SFDA food-service page still links to a different advertising portal, so confirm the live food-service route from the applicant's account before filing.

Prepare one controlled submission package:

A food advertising request is separate from importing, clearing or registering the beverage.

Control the approved version before publication

Compare the issued licence with the final published creative, selected products, channels and validity dates. The SFDA guide requires a new application when an approved advertising format is changed or approval renewed. It also specifies displaying the licence number, with limited exceptions explained in the SFDA advertising FAQ. Check the exact instructions accompanying the issued licence rather than assuming every format uses identical numbering or display rules.

For individual social-media advertisers, the guide also specifies the relevant Mawthooq authorisation, a written agreement covering content, platform and dates, and advance notification obligations. The 2026 user guide shows a “Confirm publication” action after a food advertising licence is issued. Save the licensed creative and publishing record, and do not treat direct issuance as permission to alter claims later.

For accurate product details on a selected VINUT beverage, contact VINUT. The actual Saudi advertiser must verify its campaign, obtain the applicable approval and control publication.