A trademark in Saudi Arabia only protects your brand once it is registered with the Saudi Authority for Intellectual Property (SAIP). The Kingdom follows a first-to-file rule, so whoever files first owns the mark locally, even if you have traded under that name abroad for years. For a foreign business, that makes registration something to finish before a distributor, franchisee or competitor files it for you.
This guide sets out the requirements, the official SAIP fees, the timeline, and the new option that opened on 8 October 2026, when Saudi Arabia joined the Madrid Protocol.
What Is the Process to Register a Trademark in Saudi Arabia?
Foreign businesses register a trademark in Saudi Arabia by filing with the Saudi Authority for Intellectual Property (SAIP) through a SAIP-registered agent, one class per application. SAIP examines the mark in up to 90 days, publishes accepted marks for a 60-day opposition period, then issues the certificate once the final fee is paid. Official fees total SAR 6,500 per class, and registration lasts 10 Hijri years.
Since 8 October 2026, brand owners in Madrid Protocol countries can also add Saudi Arabia to an international registration instead of filing directly.
Trademark in Saudi Arabia at a glance
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Authority | Saudi Authority for Intellectual Property (SAIP) |
| Filing rule | First to file; one class per application |
| Official fees | SAR 6,500 per class (SAR 1,000 application, SAR 500 publication, SAR 5,000 registration) |
| Examination | Up to 90 days |
| Opposition window | 60 days from publication |
| Typical timeline | 3 to 5 months if unopposed; around 12 months if opposed |
| Validity | 10 Hijri years (about 9 years and 8 months), renewable |
| Foreign applicants | File through a SAIP-registered agent, or designate Saudi Arabia through the Madrid System |
| Language of proceedings | Arabic |
Fees and periods taken from SAIP’s service pages, checked 14 October 2026.
Who Handles Trademarks in Saudi Arabia?
SAIP is the single authority for intellectual property in Saudi Arabia, covering trademarks, patents, designs and copyright, and it sits at the centre of the Saudi intellectual property system. It applies the GCC Trademark Law, which sets common rules across the Gulf but does not create a single GCC-wide registration, so your brand needs its own Saudi filing.
SAIP trademark applications filed from 19 December 2023 run on its Unified Intellectual Property Platform (eservices.saip.gov.sa). Marks filed before that date are still managed on the older trademark portal (tm.saip.gov.sa).
SAIP also handles enforcement. Brand owners can report infringement through its online channels, and its Tahaqaq platform lets owners of registered marks record them for customs enforcement at the border.
Trademark and trade name: two separate registrations
Your company’s trade name is registered with the Ministry of Commerce as part of your Commercial Registration, under the Trade Names Law that took effect in 2025. That registration does not protect your logo or brand as a trademark, and a SAIP trademark does not reserve your company name. Most foreign businesses need both.
What Can You Register as a Trademark in Saudi Arabia?
Any sign that distinguishes your goods or services from someone else’s can qualify. SAIP registers:
- Words, brand names and slogans
- Logos, symbols and drawings
- Letters, numbers or a combination of them
- Three-dimensional shapes and colour combinations
- Sound marks, through a dedicated SAIP service
- Collective and certification marks
What SAIP refuses
SAIP refuses marks that lack distinctiveness, copy or closely resemble an earlier mark, mislead the public, conflict with public morals or religion, or include national flags and official emblems.
SAIP’s rules on “Saudi Arabia” and city names
SAIP’s board has designated the name “Saudi Arabia” as public property of the state. Marks containing “Saudi Arabia”, “Kingdom of Saudi Arabia” or any reference to the state, in any language, are now limited to government bodies, special regulatory entities and significant real estate or service projects. Names of Saudi cities, regions and public places can appear in a mark only as a secondary element, never the main one, and registering them gives no exclusive right over the name.
If your brand includes Riyadh, Jeddah or another place name, make sure the distinctive part of the mark is something else.
Trademark Classes and the Nice Classification
Saudi Arabia uses the Nice Classification, which sorts goods and services into 45 classes: classes 1 to 34 for goods and 35 to 45 for services. New applications must follow the 12th edition.
Each Saudi application covers one class only. A cosmetics brand that also sells through its own online shop would usually file in class 3 for the products and class 35 for the retail service, which means two applications and two sets of fees.
| Business type | Classes usually needed |
|---|---|
| Software, apps and SaaS | 9 (downloadable software) and 42 (software and IT services) |
| Retail, e-commerce and franchising | 35 (retail, advertising and business services) |
| Restaurants, cafés and hotels | 43 |
| Cosmetics and personal care | 3 |
| Clothing and footwear | 25 |
| Coffee, tea and packaged food | 30 |
The right classes depend on the exact goods and services; confirm the specification before filing.
Requirements for Foreign Businesses
You do not need a Saudi company or Commercial Registration to own a trademark in Saudi Arabia. You do need:
- A SAIP-registered agent. Foreign applicants file through a local trademark agent, and SAIP only accepts agents recorded in its agent registry. You can check an agent against SAIP’s list of IP agents.
- A power of attorney appointing the agent. The Apostille Convention has applied in Saudi Arabia since 7 December 2022, so a power of attorney signed in another member country can be apostilled instead of going through consular legalisation. A copy can be filed with the application and the original submitted later.
- Applicant details: the owner’s full legal name, address and country of incorporation, with a copy of the commercial licence or certificate of incorporation for companies.
- A clear image of the mark in the exact form and colours you want protected.
- A list of goods or services in the chosen class. Proceedings are in Arabic, so expect the list, and any document in another language, to need an Arabic translation.
- Priority documents, if relevant. If you filed the same mark in a Paris Convention country in the last six months, you can claim that earlier date by submitting a certified copy of the first application with an Arabic translation.
If documents are coming from several countries, our PRO services team can manage the apostille and translation work.
Step by Step: How to Register a Trademark in Saudi Arabia
Step 1: Run a Saudi Arabia trademark search
SAIP’s search platform for registered trademarks is free and returns results immediately. A useful SAIP trademark search covers the English name, its Arabic spelling and phonetic variants, in your class and in related classes, because phonetically similar marks in either language can lead to a refusal or an opposition. Check Ministry of Commerce trade names and domain names at the same stage.
Step 2: Appoint an agent and prepare documents
Sign the power of attorney, prepare the image of the mark and agree the class and specification. A clear, accurate specification at this stage is the best protection against an examination objection later.
Step 3: File the application and pay SAR 1,000
SAIP trademark registration runs entirely online. Your agent files on SAIP’s platform, SAIP issues an invoice for the application fee, and the application is only taken up for examination once that invoice is paid.
Step 4: Examination, up to 90 days
SAIP lists 90 days for this stage. The decision is one of three: acceptance, acceptance subject to changes, or refusal. If SAIP asks for changes, you have 90 days to make them; miss that deadline and the application is treated as abandoned. A refusal can be challenged, and a well-argued response with a narrower specification often resolves it.
Step 5: Publication and the 60-day opposition period
Once the mark is accepted, you pay the SAR 500 publication fee and the mark is published for 60 days. Anyone with an earlier right can oppose it during that window. An opposition adds months, as both sides file arguments before SAIP decides.
Step 6: Pay the final fee and receive the certificate
If no opposition is filed, SAIP issues a final invoice of SAR 5,000. It must be paid within 30 days, after which the certificate is issued through the system.
After registration
Record the mark on Tahaqaq if counterfeit imports are a risk, and put the renewal date in your diary using the Hijri calendar.
How Much Does It Cost to Register a Trademark in Saudi Arabia?
The official trademark registration fees in Saudi Arabia come to SAR 6,500 per class, paid in three stages.
| Stage | SAIP fee per class | When it is paid |
|---|---|---|
| Application | SAR 1,000 | On filing |
| Publication | SAR 500 | After SAIP accepts the mark |
| Registration and certificate | SAR 5,000 | Within 30 days of the final invoice |
| Total to register | SAR 6,500 | |
| Renewal in the last year of protection | SAR 5,500 + SAR 1,000 publication | Every 10 Hijri years |
| Renewal within 6 months after expiry | SAR 6,500 + SAR 1,000 publication | Grace period only |
Source: SAIP trademark registration and trademark renewal service pages, checked 14 October 2026. Agent fees, translation and apostille costs are extra.
Because each class is a separate application, a brand that needs three classes pays SAR 19,500 in official fees before agent charges. For one fixed quote covering the agent, filing and follow-up, see our brand registration in Saudi Arabia service.
Saudi Arabia and the Madrid Protocol: What Changed on 8 October 2026
Saudi Arabia deposited its accession to the Madrid Protocol with WIPO on 8 July 2026, and it took effect on 8 October 2026. It is the fifth GCC state in the Madrid System after Bahrain, Oman, the UAE and Qatar, which leaves Kuwait as the only GCC member outside it.
Brand owners with a home application or registration in a Madrid member country can now designate Saudi Arabia in a new international application, or add it to an existing international registration through a subsequent designation.
- WIPO fee: CHF 1,397 per class for Saudi Arabia (CHF 1,719 per class for collective or certification marks), plus WIPO’s basic fee. Renewal is also CHF 1,397 per class, according to WIPO’s individual fee schedule.
- Saudi law still applies: SAIP examines the designation against the same rules as a national application.
- A longer wait for certainty: Saudi Arabia chose an 18-month period to issue a provisional refusal, rather than the standard 12 months.
- Dependency: for its first five years, an international registration depends on the home mark. If the home mark falls, the Saudi designation falls with it.
Direct SAIP filing or Madrid designation?
| Factor | Direct SAIP filing | Madrid designation |
|---|---|---|
| Who files | A SAIP-registered agent in Saudi Arabia | You or your adviser, through your home IP office |
| Official cost | SAR 6,500 per class | CHF 1,397 per class plus WIPO's basic fee |
| Classes | One class per application | Several classes in one international application |
| Time to a decision | Around 3 to 5 months if unopposed | SAIP has up to 18 months to raise a refusal |
| Paperwork | Apostilled power of attorney and Arabic specification | Fewer local formalities at filing, though a local agent is still needed to answer a refusal |
| Independence | Stand-alone Saudi registration | Tied to your home mark for five years |
| Best for | Brands launching in Saudi Arabia soon | Brands already managing an international portfolio |
For a business entering Saudi Arabia in the next few months, direct filing usually gives a certificate sooner. For a group that already holds an international registration, adding Saudi Arabia is often the simpler route.
How Long Does Trademark Registration Take in Saudi Arabia?
| Stage | Time |
|---|---|
| Trademark search | Immediate, on SAIP's search platform |
| Filing | Same day, once documents are ready |
| Examination | Up to 90 days |
| Changes requested by SAIP | Up to 90 days to respond |
| Publication and opposition | 60 days |
| Final fee | Within 30 days of the invoice |
Without objections or oppositions, most applications complete in about 3 to 5 months. An opposition can push the total to around 12 months.
Saudi Arabia Trademark Renewal Period
A Saudi registration lasts 10 Hijri years from the filing date, roughly 9 years and 8 months in the Gregorian calendar. The Hijri year is about 11 days shorter, so a renewal reminder set ten Gregorian years ahead will arrive too late.
You can renew during the last year of protection for SAR 5,500 plus a SAR 1,000 publication fee. There is a six-month grace period after expiry at SAR 6,500 plus publication. After that, the mark lapses and is removed from the register.
A registered mark can also be cancelled if it is not used for five consecutive years, so registering a brand you never launch in Saudi Arabia gives limited long-term protection.
Already Registered in the UAE, Qatar or Another GCC State?
A trademark registered in the UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, Oman or Kuwait does not protect your brand in Saudi Arabia. The GCC Trademark Law harmonises the rules, but each state keeps its own register.
What has changed is the route. Bahrain, Oman, the UAE and Qatar are all Madrid members, so a business with a home mark in any of them can now designate Saudi Arabia through WIPO. Kuwaiti businesses without a base in a Madrid member country still file directly with SAIP.
If you are a GCC national expanding in person, see how GCC nationals register a company in Saudi Arabia without a MISA licence.
Do You Need a Saudi Company to Register a Trademark?
No. Owning a trademark in Saudi Arabia does not depend on having a local entity, which is why many foreign brands register before they enter the market. To sell, hire or invoice in the Kingdom you will still need a licensed presence, usually through MISA registration and an LLC. Our guide to registering a company in Saudi Arabia as a foreigner covers that route.
If you plan an e-commerce business in Saudi Arabia, register the brand before you list products, so a reseller cannot file it first.
Common Mistakes Foreign Businesses Make
- Waiting until the company is set up. Under first to file, the gap between announcing a launch and filing is when brands get taken.
- Protecting only the English name. Saudi customers, distributors and marketplaces often use the Arabic spelling, so consider filing the Arabic version too.
- Choosing classes too narrowly. Each class is a separate filing, so map every product and service you plan to offer in the next few years.
- Building the mark around a place name. Under SAIP’s rules on state and place names, “Saudi Arabia” and city names cannot be the dominant element.
- Missing SAIP deadlines. You have 90 days to answer requested changes and 30 days to pay the final fee.
- Tracking renewal in Gregorian dates. Protection runs in Hijri years and ends earlier than a ten-year Gregorian reminder suggests.
- FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions
The following questions cover the most common queries we receive from foreign investors about commercial registration in Saudi Arabia.
How much does it cost to register a trademark in Saudi Arabia?
SAIP’s official fees are SAR 6,500 per class: SAR 1,000 to file, SAR 500 for publication and SAR 5,000 for registration and the certificate. Each class needs its own application, and agent, translation and apostille costs are extra. Through the Madrid System, the Saudi fee is CHF 1,397 per class plus WIPO’s basic fee.
How long does trademark registration take in Saudi Arabia?
About 3 to 5 months when SAIP raises no objection and nobody opposes the mark. Examination takes up to 90 days and publication runs for 60 days. An opposition can stretch the whole process to around 12 months.
Can a foreign company register a trademark in Saudi Arabia without a local company?
Yes. A foreign company can own a Saudi trademark without a local entity or Commercial Registration. It files through a SAIP-registered agent under a power of attorney, or designates Saudi Arabia through the Madrid System from its home country.
How do I do a Saudi Arabia trademark search?
Use SAIP’s search platform for registered trademarks, which is free and returns results immediately. Search the English name, its Arabic spelling and phonetic variants, in your class and in related classes, then check Ministry of Commerce trade names and domain names.
Is Saudi Arabia part of the Madrid Protocol?
Yes. Saudi Arabia joined the Madrid Protocol with effect from 8 October 2026. Owners of international registrations can now designate Saudi Arabia, and Saudi businesses can use the Madrid System to protect their marks abroad. SAIP has up to 18 months to issue a provisional refusal.
How long is a trademark valid in Saudi Arabia, and when do I renew it?
A Saudi trademark is valid for 10 Hijri years from the filing date, about 9 years and 8 months. Renew in the final year for SAR 5,500 plus a SAR 1,000 publication fee, or within six months after expiry for SAR 6,500 plus publication.
Can I file several classes in one Saudi trademark application?
Not with a direct SAIP filing, where each class needs its own application and its own fees. A Madrid international application can cover several classes at once, with the Saudi fee charged per class.
Does a UAE or GCC trademark protect my brand in Saudi Arabia?
No. Each GCC state keeps its own register under the GCC Trademark Law, so you need a Saudi registration or a Saudi designation under the Madrid System. Owners with a home mark in the UAE, Qatar, Bahrain or Oman can now use the Madrid route.
Can I use "Saudi" or a city name in my trademark?
Only within limits. SAIP treats “Saudi Arabia” and references to the state as public property, reserved for government bodies, special regulatory entities and significant projects. City, region and place names can only be a secondary element of a mark, never the main one.
Do I have to use my trademark after it is registered?
Yes. A Saudi registration can be cancelled if the mark is not used for five consecutive years. Plan to launch the brand in the Kingdom within that window, and keep evidence of use such as invoices, packaging and advertising.
Register Your Trademark Alongside Your Saudi Setup
Analytix handles trademark registration in Saudi Arabia as part of business setup in Saudi Arabia, so the brand, the company and the licences line up from the start. Our teams in Riyadh, Jeddah and Al Khobar can review your classes, check availability and manage the filing with SAIP.
This guide is general information based on SAIP and WIPO sources as of 14 October 2026. It is not legal advice, and fees and procedures can change.
