In Short
Saudi Arabia joined the Madrid Protocol on 8 October 2026, allowing trademark owners to seek protection in the Kingdom through WIPO’s international trademark registration system. Saudi businesses can also use the system to seek trademark protection abroad. The Madrid System now reaches 133 countries, including five of the six GCC states. However, international registration does not guarantee protection in Saudi Arabia. The Saudi Authority for Intellectual Property (SAIP) continues to examine trademarks under Saudi law, and applicants must account for filing fees, possible refusals and the five-year dependency on their basic trademark.
1. Saudi Arabia’s Madrid Accession
What Changed for Trademark Owners on 8 October 2026? Saudi Arabia became a contracting party to the Protocol Relating to the Madrid Agreement Concerning the International Registration of Marks (Madrid Protocol) on 8 October 2026, following the deposit of its instrument of accession with the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) on 8 July 2026.
WIPO confirmed the accession in Information Notice No. 35/2026.
The Madrid System allows eligible trademark owners to seek protection in multiple participating jurisdictions through a single international application, filed through an office of origin and administered by WIPO.
With Saudi Arabia’s accession, the system comprises 117 contracting parties covering 133 countries.
For a business planning to enter the Saudi market, this creates an additional filing route. An eligible trademark owner can now designate Saudi Arabia in an international application rather than necessarily filing directly with SAIP.
The change also benefits businesses already using the Madrid System. A trademark owner with an existing international registration can request a subsequent designation extending that registration to Saudi Arabia.
For Saudi businesses, accession works in the opposite direction. They can now use a qualifying Saudi trademark application or registration as the basis for seeking protection in other Madrid member jurisdictions.
The important distinction is that the Madrid System simplifies international filing and administration. It does not create a single trademark automatically enforceable in every participating country.
Each designated jurisdiction retains the authority to determine whether protection can be granted under its applicable law.
2. International Filing Process
How Can a Business Register a Trademark in Saudi Arabia Through the Madrid System? A trademark owner seeking protection in Saudi Arabia through the Madrid System must first qualify to use the international filing procedure.
Under Article 2 of the Madrid Protocol, an applicant must have the required connection to a contracting party and hold a basic application or registration with its office of origin.
That connection may arise through nationality, domicile or a real and effective industrial or commercial establishment.
For example, an eligible Indian business with an Indian trademark application or registration can file an international application through the Indian Trade Marks Registry and designate Saudi Arabia.
The process involves the following stages:
- Establish the basic trademark. The applicant must hold a qualifying application or registration with the appropriate office of origin.
- Submit the international application. The application is filed through the office of origin, identifies the goods and services and specifies the jurisdictions where protection is requested.
- WIPO conducts its formal examination. If the international application satisfies the applicable requirements, WIPO records the international registration and notifies the designated offices.
- SAIP examines the Saudi designation. The Saudi authority assesses whether the mark qualifies for protection under Saudi trademark law.
- The Saudi designation proceeds according to the examination outcome. SAIP may grant protection, issue a provisional refusal or apply the relevant opposition procedures.
- The international registration is administered through WIPO. The holder can centrally manage eligible renewals, changes in ownership and subsequent designations.
Saudi Arabia has declared an 18-month provisional refusal period under Article 5(2)(b) of the Madrid Protocol.
Certain refusals arising from opposition proceedings may be notified after that period, subject to the applicable Madrid rules.
If no refusal is notified within the applicable period, or a notified refusal is ultimately withdrawn, the designation receives the protection provided under Article 4(1)(a) of the Madrid Protocol.
Trademark owners should therefore distinguish between obtaining an international registration from WIPO and obtaining protection in Saudi Arabia.
3. Filing Fees and Costs
How Much Does a Madrid Trademark Designation Cost in Saudi Arabia? Saudi Arabia has elected to receive an individual fee for international trademark designations. Under WIPO Information Notice No. 37/2026, the applicable initial designation fees are:
| Trademark category | Saudi individual fee |
| Ordinary trademark | CHF 1,397 per class |
| Collective trademark | CHF 1,719 per class |
| Certification trademark | CHF 1,719 per class |
For example, an ordinary trademark covering three classes would attract CHF 4,191 in Saudi individual designation fees.
This is not necessarily the total cost of an international application. Other applicable WIPO fees, including the basic fee and fees associated with additional designations, must also be considered.
The individual fee also applies to the renewal of an international registration in which Saudi Arabia is designated, where the renewal falls on or after 8 October 2026. WIPO’s notice sets out a separate amount for payment received within the grace period. The renewal and grace-period amounts, including those for collective and certification marks, should be checked against the fee table in Information Notice 37/2026 at the time of renewal.
For businesses protecting trademarks in several countries, the Madrid System may reduce administrative duplication. However, it should not automatically be assumed to be cheaper than direct national filing.
The overall cost depends on the number of designated jurisdictions, trademark classes, applicable fees and any objections requiring local representation.
4. Madrid vs Direct Filing
Madrid System or Direct Saudi Trademark Filing: Which Is Better? Trademark owners can now choose between seeking protection in Saudi Arabia through the Madrid System and applying directly to SAIP.
Direct national applications remain governed by the applicable Saudi trademark framework, including the GCC Trademark Law approved by Royal Decree No. M/51, as amended.
Both routes lead to examination under Saudi trademark law, but their filing procedures and administrative consequences differ.
| Consideration | Madrid designation of Saudi Arabia | Direct Saudi filing |
| Filing authority | Through the office of origin and WIPO. | Directly with SAIP. |
| Basic trademark | A qualifying basic application or registration is required. | No foreign or international basic mark is required. |
| Filing fees | WIPO fees and Saudi individual fees. | Applicable Saudi national filing fees. |
| Examination | SAIP examines the designation under Saudi law. | SAIP examines the national application under Saudi law. |
| Refusal and opposition | SAIP may notify a provisional refusal within 18 months of WIPO’s notification of the designation, under Saudi Arabia’s declaration. 60 days from the date the trademark is published locally in Saudi Arabia. | SAIP examines the application and if refused, will, within 30 to 90 days from the filing date under standard national practice, notify refusal to the local agent. If accepted and published, then third parties may oppose within the 60-day period in the GCC Trademark Law. |
| Duration | International registration renewable every ten years. | National registration renewable every ten years. |
| Dependency | International registration depends on the basic mark for five years. | No basic-mark dependency. |
| Administration | Eligible changes and renewals managed centrally through WIPO. | Managed through the Saudi national system. |
The 18-month period is the deadline for SAIP to notify a refusal to WIPO. It is separate from the national opposition period, which runs from the time of publication.
When is Madrid preferable?
A business planning trademark protection in Saudi Arabia alongside the UAE, Bahrain, Oman or other Madrid members may find the international route administratively convenient.
It allows several designations to be managed within a single international registration, subject to the requirements and decisions of the designated offices.
When is Saudi filing preferable?
Direct filing may deserve consideration where Saudi Arabia is the only intended market, where the applicant lacks a suitable basic trademark, or where dependency on the basic mark presents a material risk.
Neither route removes the need to assess the availability and registrability of the trademark under Saudi law.
The appropriate choice depends on the applicant’s existing trademark portfolio, expansion plans, budget and risk exposure.
5. Implications for Businesses
What Does Saudi Arabia’s Madrid Protocol Membership Mean for Indian, GCC and International Businesses? The practical implications differ according to where the trademark owner is established and whether the business already holds an international registration.
5.1 Indian businesses
India has participated in the Madrid Protocol since 8 July 2013.
An eligible Indian trademark owner can use an Indian basic application or registration to seek protection in Saudi Arabia through an international application filed through the Indian Trade Marks Registry.
Consider an Indian consumer products company preparing to distribute goods in Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Oman, Bahrain and Qatar.
The company may designate all five jurisdictions in one international application, provided it satisfies the applicable Madrid requirements.
However, each jurisdiction examines the designation under its own applicable trademark law.
The business should also consider whether its trademark is available for registration in the intended markets before investing in distribution, packaging or franchise arrangements.
5.2 UAE and GCC businesses
Businesses in the UAE, Bahrain, Oman and Qatar that qualify to use the Madrid System can now include Saudi Arabia among their designated jurisdictions.
This may be relevant to regional retailers, manufacturers, technology companies, franchisors and service providers seeking coordinated brand protection across the Gulf.
However, Madrid membership does not create a unified GCC trademark registration.
Each designated GCC member continues to apply its national trademark framework.
Kuwait remains outside the Madrid System. Businesses seeking protection across all six GCC states must therefore account for a separate national filing in Kuwait.
5.3 Existing Madrid registrations
A business already holding an international trademark registration may request a subsequent designation of Saudi Arabia through WIPO.
For example, a European or Asian brand that previously designated the UAE can now add Saudi Arabia to the existing international registration, subject to the applicable requirements and fees.
This avoids the need for a new international registration solely to add Saudi Arabia.
However, the subsequent designation does not automatically secure protection. SAIP retains the authority to examine the trademark under Saudi law.
5.4 Saudi businesses
Saudi businesses can now use SAIP as an office of origin for international trademark applications, provided they meet the relevant requirements.
A Saudi technology company, for example, may use a qualifying Saudi basic application or registration to seek protection in selected Madrid member jurisdictions.
Each designated office retains the authority to examine the trademark under its own law.
Saudi applicants must also consider the five-year dependency of their international registration on the underlying basic mark.
6. Limitations and Risks
What Are the Limitations of Registering a Trademark Through the Madrid System? The Madrid System simplifies filing and administration, but trademark owners should understand its legal limitations before selecting this route.
6.1 Provisional Refusals
An international registration does not override Saudi trademark law.
Under Article 5 of the Madrid Protocol, SAIP may refuse protection on grounds applicable to trademarks filed directly in Saudi Arabia.
Saudi Arabia has declared an 18-month period for notifying provisional refusals, with certain opposition-based refusals possible after that period.
A trademark owner should not assume that WIPO’s recording of an international registration means the mark has been accepted in Saudi Arabia.
6.2 Five-Year Dependency
Under Article 6 of the Madrid Protocol, an international registration remains dependent on its basic application or registration for five years from the international registration date.
If the basic mark ceases to have effect within the relevant rules, the international registration may be cancelled to the corresponding extent.
The consequences can also arise from qualifying proceedings initiated during the five-year dependency period and concluded later.
Where an international registration is cancelled following the relevant dependency provisions, Article 9quinquies provides a transformation mechanism that may preserve the original filing or priority date through national or regional applications, subject to specified conditions and a three-month deadline.
The risk is particularly relevant where the basic application is still pending or faces a substantive challenge.
6.3 Division and Merger
Saudi Arabia has notified WIPO that its law does not provide for division or merger of trademark registrations for the relevant Madrid procedures.
This limits the procedural options available to holders of Saudi designations.
However, the absence of formal division should not be confused with an automatic refusal of every good or service covered by an international registration.
6.4 Trademark Classification
WIPO applies the 13th edition of the Nice Classification, version 2026, to international applications received by the office of origin from 1 January 2026, as explained in WIPO’s notice on the 2026 Nice Classification.
Saudi Arabia is also a party to the Nice Agreement.
Nevertheless, international classification does not remove the designated office’s authority to assess goods and services under applicable national requirements.
Trademark owners should ensure that their descriptions of goods and services accurately reflect the intended commercial activities and are acceptable for the relevant filing route.
6.5 Kuwait’s Exclusion
Although Saudi Arabia’s accession brings five GCC states within the Madrid System, Kuwait remains outside it.
A business seeking trademark protection throughout the GCC must therefore plan a separate national filing in Kuwait.
7. Before You File
What Should Trademark Owners Consider Before Filing? Saudi Arabia’s accession offers a new filing option, but the appropriate trademark strategy depends on the business’s commercial plans and existing registrations.
Before filing, trademark owners should assess whether the proposed mark is available in Saudi Arabia, whether the goods and services are appropriately classified, and whether the Madrid or national route better serves their needs.
Businesses with existing international registrations should consider whether a subsequent designation is appropriate. Businesses filing internationally for the first time should evaluate the stability of their basic trademark and the consequences of the five-year dependency period.
The budget should account for the Saudi individual fees, other applicable WIPO charges and potential costs arising from examination objections or opposition proceedings.
For businesses expanding across the GCC, trademark protection should also reflect the jurisdictions where products will be sold, services provided, franchises licensed or brands commercially exploited.
Saudi Arabia’s participation in the Madrid System makes coordinated international trademark filing more accessible. It does not eliminate the need for jurisdiction-specific examination, portfolio planning and risk assessment.
At a Glance: What Trademark Owners Should Know
For businesses protecting or expanding their brands, Saudi Arabia’s accession creates several practical opportunities and considerations.
- You can now include Saudi Arabia in an international trademark application. If you qualify to use the Madrid System, you can designate Saudi Arabia alongside other participating countries rather than submitting a separate national application in each market.
- Existing international registrations can be extended to Saudi Arabia. Trademark owners may request a subsequent designation through WIPO without filing a new international registration.
- Saudi businesses can seek trademark protection internationally. An eligible Saudi applicant can use a basic trademark application or registration with SAIP to file internationally through the Madrid System.
- Saudi Arabia charges an individual fee per class. The initial designation fee is CHF 1,397 per class for ordinary trademarks and CHF 1,719 per class for collective and certification marks, in addition to other applicable Madrid fees.
- Saudi Arabia retains examination authority. SAIP may notify a provisional refusal within 18 months, and certain opposition-based refusals may be notified later.
- Kuwait still requires a separate filing. Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain, Oman and Qatar participate in the Madrid System. Kuwait does not.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Can an Indian company register a trademark in Saudi Arabia through the Madrid System?
Yes. An eligible Indian company with a qualifying Indian basic trademark application or registration can file an international application through the Indian Trade Marks Registry and designate Saudi Arabia. SAIP will examine the Saudi designation under applicable Saudi trademark law. An international registration does not automatically guarantee protection in Saudi Arabia.
2. Can a UAE company extend its existing international trademark registration to Saudi Arabia?
Yes. A UAE company holding an international registration under the Madrid System can request a subsequent designation of Saudi Arabia through WIPO, subject to the applicable requirements and fees. SAIP will examine the designation under Saudi trademark law. The extension does not alter the trademark protection already held in other designated jurisdictions.
3. Does an international trademark registration automatically protect a brand in Saudi Arabia?
No. A WIPO international registration does not automatically guarantee trademark protection in Saudi Arabia. SAIP examines the Saudi designation under applicable national law and may issue a provisional refusal. Where no refusal is notified within the applicable deadline, or a refusal is ultimately withdrawn, the designation receives the protection provided under the Madrid Protocol.
4. Is direct national trademark registration still available in Saudi Arabia after joining the Madrid Protocol?
Yes. Trademark owners can continue to file national trademark applications directly with SAIP under the applicable Saudi trademark framework. The Madrid System provides an additional route rather than replacing national registration. The choice depends on the applicant’s eligibility, intended jurisdictions, fees and the five-year dependency risk associated with international registration.
5. Does Saudi Arabia’s Madrid Protocol membership cover trademark protection across all six GCC countries?
No. Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain, Oman and Qatar are members of the Madrid System, but Kuwait is not. Eligible applicants can designate the five participating GCC jurisdictions through the Madrid System. Trademark protection in Kuwait must be pursued through its national filing procedure.
6. What happens to a Saudi Arabia Madrid trademark designation if the basic trademark is cancelled within five years?
Under Article 6 of the Madrid Protocol, cancellation or loss of effect of the basic trademark can result in cancellation of the international registration to the corresponding extent. Qualifying proceedings initiated within the five-year period may also have consequences if concluded later. Article 9quinquies provides a possible transformation route through national applications within three months, subject to its conditions.
7. Which Nice Classification edition applies to international trademark applications designating Saudi Arabia in 2026?
WIPO applies the 13th edition of the Nice Classification, version 2026, to international trademark applications received by the office of origin on or after 1 January 2026. Saudi Arabia is a party to the Nice Agreement, but SAIP continues to examine designated trademarks and their goods and services under applicable Saudi law.
Part of ATB Legal’s Intellectual Property practice.