Arabic Labelling & Packaging Requirements for Garment Exports

September 12, 202610 min readBy Essty Garment

If you ship apparel to Saudi Arabia or the wider GCC, the label is a compliance item, not a branding afterthought. Arabic care and composition text is expected (often bilingual AR+EN), and getting it wrong means rejection at the border or a forced relabel. This guide tells factories exactly what to print.

Plan the label artwork at tech-pack stage — not after bulk is boxed.

What Must Appear on the Label

ElementRequirement
Fibre compositionArabic (+ English common); exact % per fibre
Care instructionsSymbols or Arabic text; GINETEX-style
Country of origin"Made in China" — bilingual acceptable
Supplier / brand IDImporter or brand identity
SizeClear; many use dual UK/US + cm
Tip: Keep the Arabic text concise and use a clean, legible font. Crowded or machine-translated Arabic looks unprofessional and can be challenged at inspection.

Packaging Notes

Briefing the Factory

  1. Provide the exact Arabic composition + care text (we can supply a verified template).
  2. Confirm placement (side seam care label; main label at CB neck).
  3. Approve a pre-production sample with the final label.
  4. Lock it — bulk uses the approved label only.
Warning: A wrong or missing Arabic composition is the most common GCC apparel hold. Verify the text with a native speaker before bulk, not after.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is English alone acceptable?

In practice Saudi and several GCC states expect Arabic on care/composition. Bilingual AR+EN is the safe standard. Check the current rule per market with your broker.

Who writes the Arabic text?

You or your factory. We supply a verified Arabic care/composition template you can adapt; have a native speaker confirm before bulk.

Does packaging need Arabic too?

The garment label is the hard requirement. Hangtags with claims should be bilingual; cartons just need clear style/size/count marking.

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