Amazon Saudi Arabia Raises Referral Fees and Introduces Two-Tier FBA Fulfillment Pricing Starting August 2025
Effective August 1 2025 Amazon.sa will raise referral fees in 18 product categories and introduce a two‑tier FBA fulfillment pricing model with a SAR 25 price cut‑off. Low‑price tier fees can reach SAR 10.20 per unit versus SAR 8.50 in the high‑price tier, and promotional discounts run until December 31 2026.
Overview
Amazon.sa will implement a major fee restructuring on August 1 2025. The update raises referral fees in 18 product categories, introduces a two‑tier FBA fulfillment pricing model based on a SAR 25 price cut‑off, and revises size‑ and weight‑based fulfillment rates. Sellers on the Saudi marketplace must recalculate unit economics now to avoid unexpected profit erosion.
Key Points
- Referral fee hike in 18 categories — Per‑sale charges will increase, with typical adjustments ranging from one to three percentage points depending on the category.
- Two‑tier fulfillment pricing — Items priced above SAR 25 will be charged under a “high‑price” rate card, while those at or below SAR 25 fall under a “low‑price” schedule.
- Recalibrated size/weight fees — All FBA size tiers (standard, oversize, etc.) and weight brackets receive new rates that better reflect regional operating costs.
- Promotional fulfillment rates — Select categories enjoy discounted fees from August 1 2025 through December 31 2026, providing roughly 18 months of temporary relief.
- Operational cost alignment — Amazon cites expanding Saudi fulfillment infrastructure—new warehouses, last‑mile networks, and cross‑border logistics—as the driver for the fee changes.
- High‑volume ASIN focus — Products near the SAR 25 threshold, size‑tier boundaries, or category edges will experience the most pronounced cost shifts.
How the Two‑Tier FBA Fulfillment Model Works
- Price‑based tier assignment — When a seller creates a shipment, Amazon checks the listed selling price. A kitchen gadget listed for SAR 27 is placed in the “above SAR 25” tier, while a silicone phone case priced at SAR 22 falls into the “below SAR 25” tier.
- Rate‑card application — Each tier has its own fulfillment fee schedule. For example, a standard‑size, 0.5 kg item in the high‑price tier might incur SAR 8.50 per unit, whereas the same item in the low‑price tier could be charged SAR 10.20, reflecting a higher relative cost for cheaper goods.
Analysis & Recommendations
Why This Matters
The new referral fee hikes (1‑3 pp in 18 categories) and price‑based fulfillment fees can cut profit margins by up to 10 percentage points. Sellers must recalculate economics now to avoid unexpected erosion, especially for items near the SAR 25 threshold or size‑tier edges.
Key Takeaways
- Referral fees increase in 18 categories by 1‑3 percentage points starting Aug 1 2025.
- Two‑tier FBA pricing uses a SAR 25 price threshold; low‑price tier fees may be SAR 10.20 vs SAR 8.50 for high‑price tier on identical items.
- Promotional fulfillment discounts apply to selected categories until Dec 31 2026, reducing fees by roughly SAR 1.5 per unit.
- Size/weight fee schedules are recalibrated; a 2 kg oversize item priced SAR 30 will cost SAR 15.70 under the new model.
Recommended Actions
- →Update profitability spreadsheets with the new referral percentages and tiered FBA fees; see Seller Central > Settings > Fulfillment Fees for the u...
- →Run a price audit in Seller Central > Inventory > Manage Inventory to flag ASINs priced SAR 23‑27 and adjust listings to move them into the more fa...
- →Verify promotional category eligibility in Seller Central > Reports > Fulfillment > Fee Preview and schedule inventory launches before Dec 31 2026 ...
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