Aramco SAES Standards for QC Inspectors: Complete Guide (2026)

Saudi Aramco is the world's largest oil producer, and its projects demand strict compliance with SAES (Saudi Aramco Engineering Standards). If you're a QC inspector working in Saudi Arabia — on Aramco or any major project — you must know these standards. This guide covers every SAES a QC inspector needs, across all disciplines.

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What Are SAES Standards?

SAES = Saudi Aramco Engineering Standards — the mandatory technical baseline for all Aramco projects. They are:

• Mandatory on all Aramco onshore and offshore projects
• Supplementary to international codes (ASME, API, ASTM, ACI, NACE)
• Stricter than the base code in most cases
• Auditable — non-compliance is a project hold point

Every QC inspector on an Aramco project must know which SAES applies to their discipline and how it changes the inspection requirements.

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The Overarching Quality Standard: SAES-Q-001

SAES-Q-001 is the Engineering Standard for Quality — it applies to every discipline and sets the QA/QC framework:

Requirement	Detail
QA/QC plan	Mandatory for all projects
ITP	Required for all works, with hold/witness/review points
Traceability	All materials via MTC and heat number
Third-party inspection	Required on critical structural and pressure elements
Records retention	Project life + 10 years
Audits	Internal and external (Aramco audit)

Every Aramco QC inspector must know SAES-Q-001 — it's the foundation.

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SAES Standards by Discipline

Welding: SAES-W-011

SAES-W-011 is Aramco's Welding Standard. Key QC requirements beyond ASME B31.3 / Section IX:

Area	Requirement
NDT extent	Often 10–20% RT (vs 5% B31.3 minimum)
PWHT	Mandatory at lower thickness thresholds
Hardness	Sour service per NACE MR0175 (≤22 HRC)
Welder requalification	Aramco-specific materials and positions
Documentation	Welding maps, welder logs, NDT reports
NDT personnel	Certified to ASNT SNT-TC-1A or ISO 9712

Coating & Painting: SAES-H-001

SAES-H-001 is Aramco's Coating Standard. Key QC requirements:

Area	Requirement
Surface prep	Minimum Sa 2.5 (SSPC-SP10) for external steel
Inspector qualification	NACE/AMPP CIP Level 2 minimum
DFT	Per system, SSPC-PA2 measurement
Holiday test	Mandatory on immersion and buried service
Environmental	Temp, RH, dew point recorded every shift
Chloride limit	Often <20 mg/m² (stricter than industry)

Civil & Structural: SAES-C-001

SAES-C-001 is Aramco's Civil Engineering Standard. Key QC requirements:

Area	Requirement
Concrete	Mix design approval, 28-day cube tests, third-party lab
Rebar	Mill test certificates, traceability, cover verification
Structural steel	AWS D1.1 fabrication, bolt torque, NDT per inspection level
Foundations	Geotech report, bearing capacity, as-built verification
Documentation	ITP, QA/QC plan, as-built drawings, material certificates

Electrical & Instrumentation: SAES-E-001

SAES-E-001 is Aramco's Electrical Engineering Standard. Key QC requirements:

Area	Requirement
Cables	Aramco-approved type, insulation resistance test
Earthing	Resistance <1 Ω, continuity verified
Hazardous areas	IEC 60079 compliance, Ex certification
Instrumentation	Calibration certificates, loop testing
Records	Calibration logs, test sheets, as-built loop drawings

Mechanical & Static Equipment: SAES-M-001

SAES-M-001 is Aramco's Mechanical Standard. Key QC requirements:

Area	Requirement
Pressure vessels	ASME Section VIII + Aramco additions
Tanks	API 650 fabrication, hydrotest
Rotating equipment	Alignment, vibration test, run-in test
Documentation	Manufacturer data report, as-built, test records

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The Aramco Inspection Workflow

Step 1: ITP Development

Every Aramco project requires an ITP that references:

• The applicable SAES standard
• The international code (ASME, API, ASTM, ACI)
• Hold (H), Witness (W), and Review (R) points
• Acceptance criteria
• Documentation required

Step 2: Material Approval

All materials must come from the Aramco-approved vendor list and have:

• MTC (EN 10204 3.1 or 3.2)
• Heat number traceability
• Compliance certificate to the SAES standard

Step 3: Inspection and NDT

• NDT extent per SAES (often stricter than the base code)
• NDT personnel certified to ASNT SNT-TC-1A or ISO 9712
• Calibrated equipment — calibration certificates in date

Step 4: Documentation and Handover

Aramco requires a complete QA/QC dossier at handover:

• ITP with all sign-offs
• NCR register and closure records
• NDT reports
• Material certificates
• As-built drawings
• Test reports (hydrotest, coating, electrical)
• Welder and NDT personnel certificates
• Aramco-specific forms (welding maps, welder logs)

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Aramco vs ADNOC: Key Differences

Aspect	Aramco (SAES)	ADNOC (AGES)
Naming	SAES-X-0XX	AGES-XX-0X
Scope	All disciplines	All disciplines
NDT extent	Often 10–20%	Often 10–20%
Inspector qualification	International cert + Aramco approval	International cert + ADNOC approval
Documentation	Full dossier + Aramco-specific forms	Full dossier
Vendor list	Aramco-approved	ADNOC-approved
Chloride limit (coating)	Often <20 mg/m²	Typically <50 mg/m²

Both require dual compliance with the international code and the client standard.

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Common Aramco Interview Questions

1. What SAES standards apply to your discipline?

Answer with the specific standard for your role — e.g., for a welding inspector: "SAES-W-011 for welding, SAES-Q-001 for quality, and SAES-H-001 for coating of welded structures."

2. How does SAES-W-011 differ from ASME B31.3?

"SAES-W-011 supplements B31.3. It increases the minimum NDT extent from 5% to 10–20%, mandates PWHT at lower thickness thresholds, requires hardness testing for sour service per NACE MR0175, and adds Aramco-specific documentation like welding maps and welder logs."

3. What is the chloride limit for surface preparation on Aramco projects?

"Per SAES-H-001, the chloride limit is typically <20 mg/m², measured by the Bresle patch method (ISO 8502-6). This is stricter than the industry standard of <50 mg/m²."

4. What documentation is required at Aramco project handover?

"A complete QA/QC dossier: ITP with sign-offs, NCR register, NDT reports, material certificates with heat traceability, as-built drawings, hydrotest and coating reports, welder/NDT personnel certificates, and Aramco-specific forms like welding maps and welder logs."

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Final Tips for Aramco QC Interviews

1. Know your SAES standard number — interviewers will ask
2. Understand how SAES supplements (not replaces) the international code
3. Be ready to explain the ITP and hold points
4. Mention the Aramco-approved vendor list
5. Carry your international certification (CSWIP, AWS, API, NACE, ACI)
6. Be ready for documentation questions — Aramco is documentation-heavy
7. Know SAES-Q-001 — it's the foundation for every discipline

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