Skip to main content
Country trademark guide · Updated

Trademark registration in Saudi Arabia

To register a trademark in Saudi Arabia, file online with the Saudi Authority for Intellectual Property (SAIP); from 8 October 2026 you can also designate Saudi Arabia through the Madrid System. Applicants based abroad must use a SAIP-registered local agent; each application covers one class, and official fees are paid in three stages.

Order online · Saudi Arabia trademark registration

Enter the mark, classes and applicant; an agent quotes after you submit. Once you accept the quote you pay online and can follow progress in your account.

Start your order (Saudi Arabia selected) Get a trademark search report first
Trademark registration in Saudi Arabia

Five questions first

Which route?File directly with SAIP if you only need Saudi Arabia or want to file quickly; from 8 October 2026 you can designate Saudi Arabia through Madrid if you already have a home application or registration and want several countries.Details ↓What do I need?Applicant details and proof of business activity, the mark and its description, the specific goods in the chosen class, a power of attorney notarised, authenticated and translated into Arabic, and an Arabic translation of foreign wording.Details ↓How are official fees charged?One class per application: SAR 1,000 filing, SAR 500 publication and SAR 5,000 registration, paid in three stages, each invoice within 30 days. Service fees are quoted by the agent after you submit the order.Details ↓How long does it take?Statutory: an examination decision within 90 days of filing and a 60-day opposition period after publication. With no refusal or opposition, the certificate takes about 5–7 months (estimate).Details ↓What are the main risks?Religious terms and holy place names, unauthorised use of "Saudi" or city names, and similarity to earlier marks are the most common problems; the class cannot be changed after filing, and a late payment means abandonment.Details ↓
Key facts

Trademarks in Saudi Arabia: key facts

OfficeSaudi Authority for Intellectual Property (SAIP), which accepts trademark applications online. Website and search links: IP Toolbox.
LawGCC Trademark Law and its Implementing Regulations (approved in Saudi Arabia by Royal Decree No. M/51, in force since 2016; amended by Royal Decree No. M/49)
Madrid SystemThe Madrid Protocol applies to Saudi Arabia from 8 October 2026; provisional refusal period of 18 months; an individual fee is charged for designating Saudi Arabia; Saudi Arabia does not process the division of international registrations
Foreign applicantsApplicants without a domicile in Saudi Arabia must file through an agent who is domiciled there and entered in SAIP's register of agents; the original power of attorney must be notarised, authenticated and translated into Arabic
One class per applicationSAIP's online application allows only one class; several classes need separate applications. Fees are charged per application, which in practice means per class
Foreign-language wordingMarks containing Latin, Chinese or any other non-Arabic script need a certified Arabic translation stating its pronunciation
Examination time (statutory)Examination decision within 90 days of filing; a request for correction or amendment must be answered within 90 days, or the application is deemed abandoned
Payment deadlinesThe invoices for the filing, publication and registration fees must each be paid within 30 days of issue, or the application is deemed abandoned
Opposition (statutory)60 days from publication in SAIP's Intellectual Property Gazette; the applicant must file a written reply within 60 days of receiving the opposition
Appeal against refusal (statutory)Appeal to the Trademark Grievance Committee within 60 days of receiving the refusal; the Committee's decision can be challenged in court within 60 days
Term and renewalRegistration takes effect from the filing date and lasts 10 years; renew in the final year of the term, with a 6-month grace period after expiry
Non-useAfter 5 consecutive years of non-use, an interested party can ask the court to cancel the registration
Official feesPer application (one class): SAR 1,000 filing, SAR 500 publication and SAR 5,000 registration and certificate

Checked on 2026-10-06; general information only — the office's published rules and fees prevail.

Which route

Direct filing or a Madrid designation

Both routes lead to Saudi registration. They differ in prerequisites, class rules, how official fees are paid and examination time. The Madrid route is available from 8 October 2026.

ItemDirect filing with SAIPMadrid designation of Saudi Arabia
PrerequisiteNoneA basic application or registration at your office of origin; only international applications or subsequent designations filed from 8 October 2026 can designate Saudi Arabia
ClassesOne class per application; file separately for each classOne international registration can cover several classes
Official feesPer class: SAR 1,000 filing, SAR 500 publication and SAR 5,000 registration, paid to SAIP in three stages as the application progressesBasic fee and a Saudi individual fee (in Swiss francs, as published by WIPO) paid to the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO)
Local agentRequired from filing for applicants based abroad; the power of attorney must be notarised, authenticated and translated into ArabicNot needed to file through WIPO; if a Saudi provisional refusal has to be answered, a local agent is appointed following the agent's instructions
Examination timeStatutory decision within 90 daysSaudi Arabia can notify a provisional refusal within 18 months; a refusal based on an opposition can be notified after the 18 months
Dependency riskNoneIf the basic application or registration is refused or cancelled within 5 years, the Saudi designation falls with it
Best forYou only need Saudi Arabia; you want to file quickly; you have no home filing to rely onYou already have a home filing, want protection in several countries or need many classes

There is no regional Gulf trademark registration: the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states share one trademark law, but each state registers marks separately, and in Saudi Arabia direct applications are filed with SAIP.

Not sure? Run a free search first, then submit an order online; the agent will recommend a route based on the search results. For the rules in another Gulf state, see Trademark registration in the United Arab Emirates.

What to prepare

Documents checklist

For a direct application to SAIP, prepare the following information and documents. Signed documents such as the power of attorney are provided after the order is accepted, following the instructions you receive.

Applicant

  • Name, address and nationality; for a company, its name and address
  • Proof of business activity (for a company, usually its commercial registration or business licence)

The mark

  • Representation of the mark: aspect ratio 1:1 or 2:1, 300–1,200 pixels
  • An accurate description of the mark's shape and colours
  • Type of mark (individual, collective, certification, etc.) and form (word, figurative, combined or sound)
  • Wording in Latin, Chinese or any other foreign script: a certified Arabic translation stating its pronunciation; symbols within a figurative element must also be translated

Goods and services

  • Choose one Nice class and select the specific goods or services item by item in SAIP's system
  • Several classes need separate applications; once fees are paid and examination begins, the class cannot be changed

Power of attorney and priority

  • Power of attorney: the original notarised, authenticated and translated into Arabic, then registered by the agent in SAIP's system
  • Earlier application filed abroad: priority can be claimed within 6 months, stating its date, number and country, with a priority certificate, a copy and an Arabic translation; the certificate can be filed up to 3 months after the application

Follow your agent's instructions on how to have the power of attorney notarised and authenticated. Documents to be recorded, such as assignments, licences or pledges, must also be notarised, authenticated and translated into Arabic.

How long

Process and timeline

Example: a direct application with no refusal and no opposition.

  1. Step 1

    Clearance search (recommended)

    Search for similar marks and settle the class and goods; SAIP offers a free search platform and a paid search (SAR 1,000 per search)

  2. Step 2

    Filing

    File online and pay the filing fee (SAR 1,000) within 30 days of the invoice being issued, or the application is deemed abandoned

  3. Step 3

    Examination decision

    Within 90 days (statutory); a request for correction must be answered within 90 days (statutory)

  4. Step 4

    Publication fee and publication

    Pay the publication fee (SAR 500) within 30 days of acceptance; the mark is published in SAIP's Intellectual Property Gazette

  5. Step 5

    Opposition period

    60 days from publication (statutory)

  6. Step 6

    Registration fee and certificate

    With no opposition, pay the registration fee (SAR 5,000) within 30 days of the invoice being issued and print the certificate online

"About 5–7 months" is an estimate based on the statutory deadlines above and SAIP's published 90-day examination time; SAIP publishes no statistics on average registration times. Corrections, appeals or oppositions add time; SAIP's published time for deciding an opposition is 60–90 days.

How to read the periods: "statutory" = set by law; "official statistics" = averages published by the office; "estimate" = typical cases. Actual timing varies.

How much

Official fees

Official fees are charged per application, and each application can cover only one class, so in practice they are charged per class. They are paid in three stages: the filing fee at filing, the publication fee after acceptance and the registration fee after the opposition period; each invoice must be paid within 30 days of issue. The table below shows SAIP's current fees.

ItemChargedAmountApprox. USD
Paid on filing
Application fee (one class per application)Per class1,000 SAR≈ USD 267
Paid on registration
Publication fee (payable within 30 days of acceptance, per class)Per class500 SAR≈ USD 134
Registration and certificate fee (payable within 30 days after the opposition period, per class)Per class5,000 SAR≈ USD 1,340
Keeping the registration
Renewal fee (within the last year of protection, per class)Per class5,500 SAR≈ USD 1,470
Renewal fee in the grace period (within 6 months after expiry, per class)Per class6,500 SAR≈ USD 1,740
Renewal publication fee (per class)Per class1,000 SAR≈ USD 267
Other
Official trademark search (per search)Per application1,000 SAR≈ USD 267

Source: Saudi Authority for Intellectual Property (SAIP), Trademark Registration; Saudi Authority for Intellectual Property (SAIP), Trademark renewal; Saudi Authority for Intellectual Property (SAIP), Search for a Trademark · checked on 2026-10-06 · USD figures are approximate, converted at the Bank of China spot selling rate (or, for currencies it does not quote, at the central bank's published USD rate); the official fee is the amount in the original currency

Official fees are as published by the office; the service fee is quoted by an agent after you submit, and you pay only after accepting the quote.

Need to register a trademark in Saudi Arabia?

Get a quoteInternational Trademark Strategy

Example: to register a mark in 2 classes you file 2 applications. At filing you pay 2 × SAR 1,000 = SAR 2,000; after acceptance, 2 × SAR 500 = SAR 1,000 in publication fees; then 2 × SAR 5,000 = SAR 10,000 in registration fees: SAR 13,000 in total.

Other common official fees: opposition SAR 2,000 (plus SAR 1,000 to request a hearing); appeal against a refusal SAR 1,000.

Service fees, including the Saudi local agent's fee, are quoted by the agent after you submit the order; you pay only after accepting the quote.

Watch out

Rules specific to Saudi Arabia and common refusals

These are common grounds for refusal in Saudi examination, along with Saudi-specific rules that are easy to overlook.

Religious terms and holy place names (Article 3(5))

Signs identical or similar to symbols of a purely religious nature cannot be registered. SAIP's examination guidelines list the names of God; words such as mosque, Kaaba, Quran, Bible and Torah; religious garments such as the ihram; and religious place names such as Mecca, Taiba, Mina and Muzdalifah.

Restrictions on "Saudi" and city names

Under a 2023 decision of SAIP's board, a mark containing "Saudi", "KSA" or the country's name in any language may only be filed by a government body or an entity set up under a special law, or used for a major real estate or service project, and the name cannot be the dominant part of the mark. City, region and public place names likewise cannot be the dominant part or mislead as to origin; Mecca, Medina and the Two Holy Mosques are subject to stricter rules.

Public order and public taste (Article 3(2), (3) and (15))

Signs with sexual connotations, links to alcohol or drugs, or racial or religious discrimination are refused; the national emblem (two swords and a palm tree), government emblems, images of currency and full currency names cannot be used. Marks containing words such as Registered or Copyright cannot be registered either.

Similarity to earlier marks (Article 3(11))

A mark identical or similar to someone else's earlier application or registration, for identical or related goods, is refused; reproductions, imitations and translations of well-known marks are also prohibited. SAIP compares appearance, sound and meaning, so a clearance search before filing greatly reduces this risk.

One class per application, no change of class

Each application covers only one class, and the class cannot be changed once fees are paid and examination begins. Goods must be selected item by item from the system's list, so settle the class and goods before filing.

30-day invoice deadlines

The invoices for the filing, publication and registration fees each have a 30-day deadline; if any one is not paid in time, the application is deemed abandoned. A refused or abandoned application can only be filed again, with a later filing date.

Get a trademark search report: can your mark be registered in Saudi Arabia?

Sign in, enter the mark and goods and submit a preliminary search; charged per search, with the report delivered to your account and email.

Get a search report
After registration

Keeping the registration

A Saudi registration lasts 10 years and can be renewed without re-examination. After the grace period the mark is removed from the register, and the former owner can only file a new application; once a mark is removed, others generally have to wait 3 years before registering it for identical or similar goods.

WhenWhat to doOfficial fee (per class)
Final year of the termFile the renewal; the renewal is published in the Intellectual Property GazetteSAR 5,500, plus a SAR 1,000 publication fee
Within 6 months after expiryRenewal in the grace periodSAR 6,500, plus a SAR 1,000 publication fee
Any timeRecord an assignment (documents must be notarised, authenticated and translated into Arabic)SAR 1,000, plus a SAR 500 publication fee
Any timeRecord a licenceSAR 2,000, plus a SAR 1,000 publication fee
Any timeChange the name, address or other registered detailsSAR 1,000, plus a SAR 500 publication fee

Under Article 38 of the GCC Trademark Law, the owner can ask customs in writing to suspend the release of suspected infringing imports; customs replies within 7 days and an approval lasts 1 year. Once goods are detained, the owner must sue within 10 working days. E-commerce brand registries usually also require a registered or pending trademark.

FAQ

Trademark registration in Saudi Arabia

How much does a Saudi trademark cost?

Official fees are charged per application, and each application covers one class: SAR 1,000 filing, SAR 500 publication and SAR 5,000 registration and certificate, SAR 6,500 per class in total, paid in three stages. Service fees, including the local agent's fee, are quoted by the agent after you submit the order; you pay only after accepting the quote.

How long does Saudi trademark registration take?

Statutory deadlines: SAIP must issue its examination decision within 90 days of filing, and publication is followed by a 60-day opposition period; after acceptance and after the opposition period there is also a payment window of up to 30 days each. With no refusal or opposition, these steps add up to about 5–7 months to the certificate (estimate). SAIP publishes no statistics on average times.

Can one Saudi application cover several classes?

Not for a direct filing with SAIP: the online application allows one class only, so several classes need separate applications and separate fees. If you designate Saudi Arabia through the Madrid System, one international registration can cover several classes.

Can I designate Saudi Arabia through the Madrid System?

Yes, from 8 October 2026. Saudi Arabia deposited its instrument of accession to the Madrid Protocol on 8 July 2026, and the Protocol applies to Saudi Arabia from 8 October 2026; international applications and subsequent designations filed from that date can designate Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia has an 18-month provisional refusal period and charges an individual fee.

Does one registration cover all six Gulf states?

No. The member states of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) apply the same trademark law, but registration is still national: Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Qatar each need their own registration, obtained either by filing with the national office (SAIP in Saudi Arabia) or by designating each country through Madrid (the UAE since 28 December 2021, Qatar since 3 August 2024, Saudi Arabia since 8 October 2026). See Trademark registration in the United Arab Emirates and Trademark registration in Qatar. Kuwait is the only Gulf state outside the Madrid System, so it can only be filed directly through a local agent; see Trademark registration in Kuwait.

Can I register a mark that is not in Arabic?

Yes. Marks containing English, Chinese or other foreign wording need a certified Arabic translation stating its pronunciation; if the translation directly describes the goods or carries an improper meaning, the mark may be refused. If you target the local market, consider also registering an Arabic version of your brand.

Other IP rights

Patents: invention patents last 20 years from the filing date, subject to annual fees. Saudi Arabia is a PCT member, so PCT applications can enter the Saudi national phase. For the Gulf regional patent system, see Patent applications in the GCC states (GCCPO).

Industrial designs: Saudi Arabia has been party to the Hague Agreement (Geneva Act) since 7 April 2025, so it can be designated through the Hague System; each international application can contain only one design, and the maximum term of protection is 15 years.

Patent applications are handled through an affiliated patent agency.

IP news: Saudi Arabia

Other countries and territories in the region

United Arab Emirates · Qatar · Jordan · Turkey · Egypt · Iran

Downloads

Ready to file?

Order online · Saudi Arabia trademark registration

Enter the mark, classes and applicant; an agent quotes after you submit. Once you accept the quote you pay online and can follow progress in your account.

Start your order (Saudi Arabia selected) Get a trademark search report first

Questions first?

Leave your question and an agent will reply.
Have a question? Tell us…
Please enter your name (without web addresses)
Please enter a valid email address
Please enter a valid phone number
Please describe your inquiry (no HTML code or link markup, and at most one web address)
Verification pending or too many submissions, please try again later

Notice: the services described on this page are carried out by locally licensed partner firms; J&C is your point of contact and coordinates and delivers the work. Fees shown are estimates; official fees are those actually charged by the office and the final quote is confirmed by an agent. Examination times are set by each office and the outcome depends on official examination; we make no promise as to results. By submitting an order you agree that the information needed for the work is shared with the relevant partner firm (which may be outside your country). This page is general information, not legal advice.

Terms of Use · Privacy Policy