EER, SEER and IPLV explained, how to read the UAE five-star label and the SASO A to G label, Saudi minimums for window and split units, registration requirements and a pre-import checklist.
An AC energy efficiency label tells you how much cooling a model delivers per unit of electricity, and proves it was registered with the regulator. In the UAE the label rates models on a five-star scale under UAE.S 5010; in Saudi Arabia the SASO label grades small units by seasonal efficiency (SEER) under SASO 2663. Check both before you buy from HVAC suppliers in the UAE.
This guide is for importers, distributors, contractors and procurement teams who must buy, register or approve air conditioners in the UAE and Saudi Arabia. It explains the efficiency metrics, how to read each label, the Saudi minimums, what registration involves and what to check before a shipment leaves the factory. For the wider picture of cooling systems, brands and the headline regulations, start with our guide to chillers and air conditioning in the UAE and Saudi Arabia.
Labels and certificates use several ratios. All of them divide cooling output by electrical input; they differ in units and in the operating conditions they average over.
| Metric | What it is (as defined in SASO texts) | Where you see it |
|---|---|---|
| EER | Rated cooling capacity divided by rated cooling power input, in Btu/(W.h), at one set of rating conditions (T1 or T3) | Saudi MEPS for small and large ACs; nameplates |
| CSPF | Cooling seasonal performance factor: total heat removed over a year divided by total energy used in the same period (ISO 16358-1) | Basis of SEER |
| SEER | CSPF multiplied by 3.412, in Btu/(W.h); in SASO 2663 it is calculated with a Saudi-specific weather bin | SASO 2663 label grade and MEPS; ISO-rated large units |
| SEERon | Seasonal efficiency in active mode under EN methods | Chillers rated to EN 14825 |
| IEER | Integrated energy efficiency ratio, a part-load metric under AHRI methods | Large packaged units and VRF rated to AHRI |
| IPLV | Integrated part load value under AHRI methods | Chillers rated to AHRI 550/590 |
| AEC | Annual energy consumption in kWh, equal to the cooling seasonal energy consumption from the ISO 16358-1 tool | SASO 2663 label |
The key shift is from single-point EER to seasonal and part-load metrics. EER at T1 (35°C outdoor) or T3 (46°C outdoor) is a snapshot at full load; SEER, IEER and IPLV reflect the part-load hours where an air conditioner spends most of its life. That is also why SASO 2663:2025 sets a higher SEER minimum for two-stage, multi-stage and variable capacity splits than for fixed-speed ones.
SASO's energy efficiency labelling exists, in its own words, to "enable the consumer to know the product's efficiency before purchasing" and to reduce consumption. Small capacity air conditioners are labelled under SASO 2663 and large capacity units certified under SASO 2874.
In September 2018 SASO announced that Saudi labels would change from stars to seven levels, to give all covered appliances one unified design that consumers can compare easily. SASO's draft text for the 2025 update of SASO 2663, published for comment, grades air conditioners by calculated SEER on a seven-step scale from A (dark green) to G (dark red):
| Grade | Bar colour | SEER (Btu/W.h) in the SASO 2663 draft |
|---|---|---|
| A | Dark green | 18.0 and above |
| B | Green | 15.0 to below 18.0 |
| C | Light green | 12.5 to below 15.0 |
| D | Yellow | 10.0 to below 12.5 |
| E | Orange | 9.0 to below 10.0 |
| F | Red | 8.0 to below 9.0 |
| G | Dark red | Below 8.0 |
These bands come from the draft; confirm them against the published SASO 2663:2025 on SASO's standards portal before relying on a grade boundary in a contract.
The same draft lays the label out in fields: the SASO logo; the SEER grade; cooling information (rated full capacity at T1 in Btu/h and kW, the SEER value and annual energy consumption in kWh); heating capacity and COP where the unit heats; the type (window or split); brand, country of manufacture and model number; a QR code; the registration number, label serial number and standard reference; and a legal statement. The label is 100 mm wide by 170 mm high, must be fixed on the most prominent part of the product and on its packaging, and on split units on both the indoor and outdoor units.
The QR code carries more than the printed label, including EER at T1 and T3, power input at full, half and minimum load, the compressor type (fixed, two-stage, multi-stage or variable) and the refrigerant. SASO has told consumers to scan label QR codes with its "Taakad" app to check that the data matches the product.
The label grade is comparative; the MEPS is the pass mark. A model below MEPS cannot be certified at all. SASO's own presentation of SASO 2663:2025 gives these minimums for window and split units up to 65,000 Btu/h:
| Type | Compressor | Sub-type | Capacity at T1 (Btu/h) | EER at T1 | EER at T3 | SEER |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Window | All | All | Up to 24,000 | 9.80 | 7.20 | 8.50 |
| Window | All | All | 24,000 to 65,000 | 9.00 | 6.40 | 7.80 |
| Split | Fixed capacity | Ducted | Up to 65,000 | 11.80 | 8.40 | 10.10 |
| Split | Fixed capacity | Non-ducted | Up to 65,000 | 11.80 | 8.50 | 10.30 |
| Split | Two-stage, multi-stage, variable | Ducted | Up to 65,000 | 11.80 | 8.40 | 12.80 |
| Split | Two-stage, multi-stage, variable | Non-ducted | Up to 65,000 | 11.80 | 8.50 | 12.80 |
For large units, SASO 2874:2025 sets rated EER minimums by category and capacity, plus a part-load rating. For air-cooled air conditioners rated under AHRI 340/360 the minimums run from 11.2 down to 9.7 as capacity rises; VRF has separate tables for AHRI 1230 and ISO 15042 ratings; chillers run from 9.7 (air cooled) to 20.5 (largest water cooled). The chiller table is reproduced in the main guide, and our comparison of split, ducted and package AC units shows what the small-unit figures mean for choosing a system type.
For large units, SASO's acceptance criteria at registration allow tested power up to 1.05 times rated power and tested capacity down to 0.95 times rated capacity. Tested EER must meet the MEPS and be at least 0.95 times the rated EER; tested IEER, IPLV, SEER and SEERon must be at least 0.90 times their rated values. In practice, a model rated just at the MEPS leaves no margin; a buyer specifying a minimum should ask for the rated value and the test report, not only the certificate.
The UAE scheme is run by the Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology (MoIAT), formerly ESMA. TÜV Rheinland, one of the bodies MoIAT appoints, describes it this way: test results include an efficiency rating on a five-star scale, with five stars the most efficient; every label carries an individual RFID serial number, applied batch-wise through MoIAT; and compliance is shown by an ECAS certificate (mandatory, valid one year) or an EQM certificate (voluntary, valid three years).
The UAE splits products at 65,000 Btu/h (19 kW). According to TÜV Rheinland's summaries of the draft regulations, UAE.S 5010-1 covers ducted and non-ducted air conditioners and air-cooled heat pumps up to that capacity, excluding evaporative coolers, separate condensing units and all VRF and multi-split systems. UAE.S 5010-5 covers larger units, including ducted units with air or water cooled condensers, water-source heat pumps, condensing units, computer room units and chillers, plus VRF and multi-split systems of any capacity. Cabinet Resolution No. 157 of 2025 made the 2025 editions of both mandatory from 15 November 2025.
The star thresholds of the 2025 editions are set in the standards themselves, which are not published openly; we have not reproduced figures from older editions. Ask the certification body or the supplier for the star rating and the rated values on the certificate. The last revision also came with a transition: when the 2019 editions took effect, new products had to comply from 1 January 2021, and models compliant with the previous version got an extra six months to the end of June 2021, as UL Solutions reported. Expect similar transitional arrangements to be announced, and check the current ones with MoIAT.
SASO's presentation on the 2025 standards lists the energy efficiency certificate and label requirements:
After application study, review and two invoices, SASO says certification takes a maximum of seven working days from the first invoice payment if the application is complete. Large AC certificates are issued with one to five years' validity, and SASO accepts a simulation report backed by a reference-model test where a unit exceeds every accepted laboratory's capacity. The product then goes through SABER for a product certificate of conformity and shipment certificate; our guide to SASO and SABER certificates explains that step. For the UAE route, see our guide to ECAS and EQM product conformity.
The SASO 2663 draft requires an indelible nameplate, in Arabic or English or both, with the manufacturer, country of origin, model and serial number, voltage and frequency, rated current, rated cooling power input, capacity and EER for each cooling test condition, heating data where applicable, and the refrigerant with its charge in kg. It also requires an instruction sheet in both Arabic and English. Check sample nameplates against the certificate before mass production.
SASO's enforcement plan covers both small and large ACs. The key points from its September 2025 workshop:
Brochures often say a range is "designed to" a regulation. That is a design intent, not a certificate for the model you are buying.
SKM lists its APMR-W 60 Hz packaged series as rated to AHRI 210/240 and SASO 2874, and its APMRG1 50 Hz series to the ESMA regulation; its ducted mini splits come in ESMA and SASO versions. Those claims tell you which market a series is built for; the certificate number for each model tells you it is registered.
Daikin lists its EWAD-M air cooled screw chiller for the Middle East as compliant with Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) and Kuwait Ministry of Electricity and Water requirements, rated at 46°C ambient. For a Saudi project the same chiller still needs a SASO 2874:2025 certificate, and for the UAE a certificate under the current UAE.S 5010-5 where in scope.
Need suppliers who can provide registered, labelled equipment? Post your requirement and HVAC suppliers in the UAE and Saudi Arabia, including HVAC suppliers in Saudi Arabia, can respond. You can also browse VRF system suppliers, chiller suppliers and product testing and certification services.
More in this series: VRF vs Chiller Systems, Air-Cooled vs Water-Cooled Chillers in the UAE and Saudi Arabia, HVAC Maintenance for Gulf Buildings.
EER, the energy efficiency ratio, is rated cooling capacity divided by rated power input, expressed in Btu/(W.h) at one set of test conditions. Saudi rules state it at T1 (35°C outdoor) and T3 (46°C outdoor). A higher EER means more cooling for each watt. Because it is measured at full load, it does not show how efficiently an inverter unit runs at part load, which is what SEER captures.
EER is a single full-load test point. SEER is a seasonal figure: in SASO texts it equals the cooling seasonal performance factor (CSPF) from ISO 16358-1 multiplied by 3.412, calculated over a Saudi-specific temperature profile. SEER rewards units that run efficiently at part load. SASO 2663:2025 introduced SEER minimums for the first time, and the Saudi label grade is based on SEER.
Scan the QR code on the label with SASO's Taakad app, which SASO says lets consumers check that the label data matches the product. The QR code carries the registered data, including model, EER at T1 and T3, SEER, annual energy consumption and refrigerant. The label also shows the registration number and label serial number, which you can match against the supplier's certificate.
The UAE label rates models on a five-star scale, with five stars the most efficient, based on testing under the UAE.S 5010 standard that applies to the unit's capacity. Each label has its own RFID serial number issued through MoIAT. The star bands are set in the 2025 editions of the standards; ask the supplier or certification body for the rating on the model's ECAS certificate.
Not after 29 November 2026. SASO's plan cancels all energy efficiency and SABER certificates issued under the previous versions on that date, regardless of remaining validity, and enforcement of the 2025 versions starts on 1 December 2026. Products already in the Saudi market remain valid. A 2021 test report can be reused for a new certificate if it meets all SASO 2663:2025 requirements.
They need energy efficiency certification. In Saudi Arabia they are certified under SASO 2874:2025 with a minimum rated EER and a part-load rating (IPLV or SEERon). In the UAE, chillers are listed in the scope of the large capacity regulation UAE.S 5010-5, according to TÜV Rheinland's summary of the draft; confirm the requirement for a specific model with the certification body.
How VRF and chilled water systems differ, where VRF runs out of capacity, refrigerant safety in small rooms, part-load and high ambient ratings, district cooling as a third option, and an RFQ checklist.
Where LV ends and MV begins, how GIS and AIS differ in size, cost and maintenance, what SF6 rules mean for Gulf buyers, how ring main units work and how to read an MV datasheet.
Wall split, ducted split, package or window unit: how they differ, what Saudi and UAE efficiency rules require of each, how they cope at 46°C, and which suits villas, offices and warehouses.
