How to Register a Trademark in Saudi Arabia

Trademark registration in Saudi Arabia is handled by the Saudi Authority for Intellectual Property (SAIP) under the GCC Trademark Law. A registered mark is protected for 10 years from the filing date and follows a first-to-file system — the first valid applicant secures the right, not the first user.

Key Takeaways

• Trademark rights in Saudi Arabia are acquired through registration, not through use — filing first is what matters.
• The Saudi Authority for Intellectual Property (SAIP) examines, publishes, and registers all marks under the GCC Trademark Law.
• A registered trademark is valid for 10 years (Hijri calendar) from the filing date and is renewable indefinitely for further 10-year periods.
• One application covers one class of the NICE Classification; a multi-class brand needs multiple applications.
• After SAIP approval, the mark is published in the Official Gazette, triggering a 60-day opposition window for third parties.
• Foreign applicants must file through a registered Saudi trademark agent with a legalised Power of Attorney.
• Saudi Arabia is a member of the Paris Convention but has not joined the Madrid Protocol; direct national filing is required.

What is trademark registration in Saudi Arabia?

Trademark registration in Saudi Arabia is the legal process of securing exclusive rights to a brand name, logo, symbol, or combination through the Saudi Authority for Intellectual Property. Once registered under the GCC Trademark Law, you hold a government-issued right that lets you prevent others from using a confusingly similar mark for the same goods or services. Without registration, you have no statutory protection — only limited common-law options that are far harder to enforce.

Who governs trademarks in Saudi Arabia?

The Saudi Authority for Intellectual Property (SAIP) is the sole government body responsible for examining, publishing, and registering trademarks across the Kingdom. SAIP operates under the unified GCC Trademark Law, which sets the framework for registrability, opposition, and enforcement across Gulf Cooperation Council member states. SAIP also maintains the official trademark register and publishes accepted marks in the Official Gazette, where third parties can file oppositions within 60 days of publication.

Which law applies to Saudi trademark registration?

The GCC Trademark Law, adopted by all six Gulf Cooperation Council member states, governs trademark registration in Saudi Arabia. Its implementing regulations were issued by Ministerial Decision No. 1441-123 and came into effect in 2021. Saudi Arabia is also a signatory to the Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property, which allows foreign applicants to claim priority from a home-country filing made within the preceding six months. The Kingdom has not yet acceded to the Madrid Protocol, so international registrations designating Saudi Arabia are not possible — you must file directly with SAIP.

What can be registered as a trademark in Saudi Arabia?

SAIP registers any distinctive sign capable of graphical representation — this includes words, logos, three-dimensional shapes, slogans, colour combinations, and even sound marks under the current law. A mark must not be descriptive of the goods or services, must not conflict with an existing registration, and must not violate public order or Islamic morality. Saudi Arabia applies strict scrutiny to marks that include religious symbols, alcohol-related terms, or images of women in revealing clothing — SAIP examiners regularly refuse such applications on public-policy grounds.

Which NICE classes apply in Saudi Arabia?

Saudi Arabia follows the NICE Classification, with all 45 classes available. One application covers one class only — a brand that sells coffee (Class 30) and runs a café (Class 43) must file two separate applications. The most commonly filed classes in the Kingdom include Class 35 (retail and advertising services), Class 9 (software and electronics), Class 25 (clothing), Class 41 (education and entertainment), and Class 43 (restaurants and hotels). Choosing the right class is critical because SAIP does not allow you to add goods or services after filing.

How do you register a trademark in Saudi Arabia?

1. Conduct a trademark search. Before filing, search SAIP's trademark database for identical or similar marks in your target class. A proper clearance search reduces the risk of an examiner objection or a third-party opposition later. IP Sewa's trademark database search can help you check for conflicting marks, though an official SAIP search provides the most authoritative result.
2. Select the correct NICE class. Identify which class or classes cover your goods or services. If you are unsure, our NICE Class Finder helps you browse and pinpoint the right class based on what your business actually offers.
3. Prepare and file the application. Submit the application form to SAIP with the required documents — a copy of the mark, a list of goods or services, a Power of Attorney legalised by a Saudi consulate (for foreign applicants), and a certified copy of the priority document if you are claiming Paris Convention priority.
4. SAIP examination. SAIP examines the application for distinctiveness, conflicts with prior marks, and compliance with public-policy rules. If the examiner raises an objection, you have a fixed period — usually 90 days — to submit a written response with arguments or amendments.
5. Publication in the Official Gazette. Once SAIP accepts the mark, it is published in the Official Gazette. Third parties have 60 days from the publication date to file an opposition. If an opposition is filed, SAIP notifies you and the matter proceeds to a hearing before the trademark committee.
6. Payment and certificate issuance. If no opposition is filed — or if an opposition is resolved in your favour — you pay the registration fee and SAIP issues the trademark registration certificate. The mark is then entered in the official register and protected for 10 years from the filing date.

What documents do you need to file a trademark in Saudi Arabia?

The document set depends on whether the applicant is a Saudi entity or a foreign company. A Saudi applicant typically needs a copy of the commercial registration, a copy of the trademark specimen, and a signed Power of Attorney if filing through an agent. A foreign applicant must provide a notarised and legalised Power of Attorney (legalised by the Saudi embassy or consulate in the applicant's home country), a certified copy of the home-country trademark registration certificate if priority is claimed, and a clear specimen of the mark. All documents not in Arabic must be accompanied by a certified Arabic translation.

How long does trademark registration take in Saudi Arabia?

A straightforward, unopposed trademark application in Saudi Arabia typically takes between 8 and 12 months from filing to certificate issuance. The examination phase alone can take four to six months, and publication adds another two to three months with the 60-day opposition window. An opposition, an examiner's objection, or a backlog at SAIP can stretch the timeline considerably — contested applications sometimes take 18 months or longer to resolve. Foreign applicants filing through an agent should add time for document legalisation and courier delivery before the SAIP clock even starts.

How much does trademark registration cost in Saudi Arabia?

The total cost of trademark registration in Saudi Arabia has two components: official SAIP fees and professional legal fees. Official fees are charged per application per class — there is a filing fee, a publication fee, and a registration fee, each payable at different stages. Foreign applicants also incur document-legalisation costs, certified-translation costs, and agent-service fees. Because SAIP fees are subject to periodic revision, the most reliable way to get an up-to-date figure is to use our Trademark Fee Calculator or contact our team for a current breakdown based on your specific filing scenario.

What happens after registration — renewal and maintenance?

A Saudi trademark registration is valid for 10 years (calculated by the Hijri calendar, which is slightly shorter than the Gregorian calendar) from the filing date. You can renew it indefinitely for further 10-year periods. SAIP allows a six-month grace period after expiry for late renewal, subject to a surcharge. If you fail to renew within the grace period, the mark is cancelled and removed from the register — and you lose priority. Keep your registered address current with SAIP, because renewal notices are sent to the address on file.

Common mistakes to avoid when filing in Saudi Arabia

A frequent mistake we see is filing a mark that includes a descriptive term for the goods — SAIP examiners are strict on distinctiveness, and a mark like "Fresh Bread" for a bakery will almost certainly be refused. Another common error is choosing the wrong NICE class or drafting the list of goods too broadly; you cannot expand the list later, so get it right at the start. Foreign applicants often underestimate the legalisation timeline — getting a Power of Attorney legalised by a Saudi consulate can take weeks. Finally, do not assume that using a mark in the Saudi market gives you any priority. Saudi Arabia is a first-to-file jurisdiction — if someone else files before you, they own the right, even if you used the mark first.

A realistic example — a Riyadh café chain

Imagine a Saudi entrepreneur opening a specialty-coffee brand called "Qahwa Watan" with a distinctive logo and plans for five Riyadh locations. To protect the brand fully, the owner would file at least two trademark applications: one in Class 30 for the packaged coffee beans sold retail, and a second in Class 43 for the café services. Each application needs its own specimen, its own list of goods or services, and its own set of official fees. Filing both simultaneously from day one prevents a competitor from registering the same name in the class the owner left unfiled — a gap we see exploited more often than you would expect. The owner should also search SAIP's register before finalising the brand name, ideally with help from an agent who understands how SAIP examiners assess Arabic and mixed Arabic-Latin marks for confusing similarity. Our team can help you search and prepare applications that cover all the classes your business actually needs — reach out here once you have a brand name in mind.

In short

Trademark registration in Saudi Arabia is a SAIP-managed, first-to-file process under the GCC Trademark Law that gives you 10 years of exclusive rights, renewable indefinitely. One application protects one class, foreign filers need a legalised Power of Attorney, and a proper SAIP search before filing is the single most important step you can take to avoid a rejection or an opposition. A well-prepared application that gets the class, the specimen, and the Arabic documentation right typically sails through to registration in under a year.

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Ready to protect your brand? Start with a trademark search to check if your mark is available, try our fee calculator for an instant cost estimate, or contact our team to discuss your filing — we will walk you through the classes, documents, and timeline specific to your situation.