Saudi Arabia's current trademark regulations are primarily based on the 2002 revised "Trademark Law." The Saudi Trademark Office is responsible for managing trademark affairs, and the official language is Arabic. Trademark rights must be obtained through registration. While trademark registration is not mandatory, it is required for trademark protection or renewal. Saudi Arabia adopts a "first-to-file" principle while also considering "prior use" in certain cases. Since September 27, 2016, Saudi Arabia's trademark regulations have been aligned with the "GCC Trademark Law."

Saudi Arabia is a member of international intellectual property treaties such as the "WIPO Convention," the "TRIPS Agreement," and the "Paris Convention." However, it is not yet a member of the Madrid System, so trademark registration can only be processed through "national registration."

Classification

Saudi Arabia adopts the Nice Classification system for trademark registration. However, items such as alcoholic products, pork products, and Christmas-related goods cannot be registered. Elements eligible for trademark registration in Saudi Arabia include text, graphics, and three-dimensional marks.

Convention Priority

Saudi Arabia is a member of international treaties such as the "Paris Convention." If an applicant has already filed a trademark application in another Paris Convention member country, they can file the same trademark application in Saudi Arabia within six months and enjoy priority. This means the filing date of the first application will be considered the priority date in Saudi Arabia.

Examination Procedure

Submission of Application - Formal Examination - Substantive Examination - Publication - Approval - Issuance of Certificate

Opposition

The opposition period for trademarks in Saudi Arabia is 60 days. If no opposition is filed or if the opposition is unsuccessful during the publication period, the trademark will be approved for registration. Typically, trademark registration in Saudi Arabia takes about 8 months if the process goes smoothly. If there are oppositions or rejections, the time may be extended.

Duration and Renewal

Validity: Trademark registration in Saudi Arabia is valid for 10 years according to the Saudi calendar (equivalent to 9 years and 8 months in the Gregorian calendar).
Renewal Start Date: Trademark renewal can be done within 12 months before the expiration date.
Grace Period: 6 months (according to the Saudi calendar).
Renewal Validity: 10 years.
Restoration After Expiry: Once a trademark expires, it cannot be restored; a new application must be submitted.