International trademark registration from Saudi Arabia after the Kingdom joined the Madrid System in October 2026: requirements, steps, fees, examination periods, a comparison with national filing, and how foreign companies can protect their marks in the Kingdom.
If you export to the Gulf or Europe, or open a branch or franchise outside the Kingdom, your trademark registered in Saudi Arabia does not protect you abroad. Protection is territorial, and whoever registers first in a country may stop you from selling there under your own name. The key development of 2026 is that international trademark registration is now possible from Riyadh with a single application, since the Madrid System entered into force in the Kingdom on 8 October 2026.
In this guide we explain what changed with Madrid accession, the requirements for an international application, its steps, fees and examination periods, when national filing in each country is the better choice, and how a foreign company can protect its mark in Saudi Arabia.
What Changed When Saudi Arabia Joined the Madrid System?
The Madrid System is administered by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). It lets a trademark owner file one international application, in one language and with fees in one currency, designating the countries where protection is sought from more than 130 members. The Kingdom deposited its instrument of accession in July 2026, and the Protocol entered into force there on 8 October 2026.
In practice this means two things:
- For Saudi companies: they can protect their mark in dozens of countries through the Saudi Authority for Intellectual Property (SAIP) as the office of origin, instead of appointing a lawyer in each country.
- For foreign companies: they can designate Saudi Arabia in their international application, or add it later to an existing international registration.
To learn about local registration first, which is a prerequisite for the international application, read our guide to trademark registration in Saudi Arabia.
Requirements for International Trademark Registration Through Madrid
- A basic mark: a filed application or existing registration for the same mark with SAIP.
- A link to the Kingdom: the applicant must be a Saudi national, be domiciled in Saudi Arabia, or have a real and effective industrial or commercial establishment there.
- Identical mark: the mark in the international application must match the basic mark, and the goods and services must fall within its coverage.
- Nice Classification: classes, goods and services must be specified precisely, as overly broad wording may be refused in some countries.
Important: the international registration remains dependent on the basic mark for 5 years. If the basic application is refused or the registration cancelled in Saudi Arabia during that period, the international registration falls in all countries to the same extent. Make sure your mark is solid at home before expanding.
Steps to Register a Trademark Internationally from Saudi Arabia
- Run availability searches in the target countries before filing, because an earlier similar mark in a country means refusal there.
- Secure the basic mark with SAIP, and file it first if it has not been filed yet.
- Prepare the international application, select the countries, classes, goods and services, and file it through SAIP as the office of origin.
- Formal examination at WIPO, then recording in the International Register and publication in the WIPO Gazette of International Marks.
- Substantive examination in each country under its own law; a provisional refusal may be issued and answered through local counsel in that country.
- Statement of grant of protection from each country, or expiry of the refusal period without objection.
International Trademark Registration Fees
WIPO fees are paid in Swiss francs and are made up of several elements:
| Cost element | Amount |
|---|---|
| WIPO basic fee | CHF 653, or CHF 903 for a mark in color |
| Fee for each designated country | Complementary or individual fee depending on the country and number of classes |
| Individual fee for designating Saudi Arabia | CHF 1,397 per class |
| Office of origin fee | According to SAIP's fee schedule |
| Advisory fees and refusal responses | Depends on the number of countries and complexity |
To calculate exact fees for any combination of countries and classes, WIPO offers an official fee calculator. As a rule of thumb, Madrid becomes more cost-effective as the number of target countries grows.
Examination and Protection Periods for International Registration
- Provisional refusal period: each country has 12 or 18 months, depending on its declaration, to notify a refusal. Saudi Arabia chose 18 months for marks designating it.
- Opposition-based refusals: may be notified after that period in some cases under the Protocol.
- Term of protection: 10 years, renewable, with a single renewal at WIPO covering all countries.
- Dependency on the basic mark: 5 years from the international registration date, after which protection in each country becomes independent.
Madrid or National Filing in Each Country?
| Aspect | Madrid System | National filing |
|---|---|---|
| Number of applications | One application for several countries | A separate application in each country |
| Upfront cost | Usually lower when many countries are targeted | Higher because of local fees |
| Renewal and changes | Centralized at WIPO | Separate in each country |
| Non-member countries | Not available | Available |
| Risk if the basic mark falls | Affects all countries within 5 years | Each registration is independent |
In practice many companies combine both routes: Madrid for member countries, and direct national filing in key non-member countries, including some in the Gulf and the Middle East. Check each country's membership on WIPO's Madrid System site before planning.
Trademark Registration for Foreign Companies in Saudi Arabia
A foreign company now has two routes to protect its mark in the Kingdom:
- Designating Saudi Arabia via Madrid: in a new international application or through a subsequent designation of an existing international registration, paying the Saudi individual fee.
- Direct national filing with SAIP, the right option if the company's home country is not a Madrid member, or if it wants a registration independent of its home mark.
Either way, the mark is subject to SAIP examination under Saudi law, including registrability, conflicts with earlier marks and public order. The company usually needs local representation to answer refusals or oppositions. Nova Legal offers trademark registration for foreign companies, together with legal translation between Arabic, English and Chinese for powers of attorney and documents.
Mistakes That Cost You Your Mark Abroad
- Expanding before securing the basic mark in Saudi Arabia, so the international registration falls with it.
- Skipping availability searches in target countries, then discovering an earlier similar mark after paying the fees.
- Broad wording of goods and services that is refused in countries requiring specificity.
- Ignoring non-member countries that are a major market for your product.
- Missing the deadline to answer a provisional refusal, so the refusal becomes final in that country.
- Not tying the mark to distribution and franchise agreements, so a distributor or franchisee registers it in its own name in its country.
For broader protection of your intangible assets, read our guide to intellectual property protection in Saudi Arabia, and if you work through distributors, see the Commercial Agency Law.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I register an international trademark from Saudi Arabia?
Yes. Since the Madrid System entered into force in Saudi Arabia on 8 October 2026, the owner of a mark filed or registered with the Saudi Authority for Intellectual Property can submit a single international application designating the member countries where protection is sought.
How much does international trademark registration cost?
It consists of the WIPO basic fee (CHF 653, or CHF 903 for a mark in color), the fee for each designated country according to its schedule and the number of classes, plus the office of origin fee and advisory fees. The total depends on the number of countries and classes.
How long does it take to secure protection for an international mark?
Each country has 12 or 18 months, depending on its declaration, to notify a provisional refusal; Saudi Arabia chose 18 months for marks designating it. If no refusal is issued within that period, the mark is treated as protected in that country.
Can a foreign company protect its mark in Saudi Arabia through Madrid?
Yes. The holder of an international registration can designate Saudi Arabia in a new application or through a subsequent designation of an existing registration, subject to examination by the Saudi authority under Saudi law and payment of the Saudi individual fee.
Is the Madrid System better than filing in each country separately?
Usually yes when the target countries are numerous and members of the system, as it offers one application with a single language, set of fees and renewal. National filing is better if a key country is not a member, or if your basic mark is at risk of cancellation within the first 5 years.
Is your mark protected only in Saudi Arabia? Extend it before someone else does
We search availability in your target countries, choose between Madrid and national filing, and follow the application and responses through to grant of protection.
info@novalegal.sa | Al Sahaba Road, Al-Ishbiliyah District, Riyadh
Conclusion: International Trademark Registration Is Closer Than Ever
With the Kingdom's accession to the Madrid System, international trademark registration is now a single application that starts in Riyadh. Its success depends on a strong basic mark, prior searches in target countries, precise wording of goods and services, and tracking refusal deadlines in each country.
The Nova Legal team in Riyadh handles your trademark file from search to grant of protection through our local and international trademark registration service and our intellectual property and franchise service. Address: Al Sahaba Road, Al-Ishbiliyah District, Riyadh – Building 2/2 Al Hamra City, Second Floor, Office 202.
