Saudi Arabia Expands Global Trademark Filing Options Through Madrid Protocol

Saudi Arabia will officially become part of the WIPO Madrid System on October 8, 2026, after depositing its instrument of accession on July 8, 2026. The addition expands the international trademark registration network and marks another step toward broader trademark harmonization in the Gulf region. Saudi Arabia is the fifth Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) nation to participate, with Kuwait remaining the only GCC member that has not yet joined.

The addition creates new opportunities for trademark owners both inside and outside the Kingdom. Businesses based in Bahrain, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates can now use the Madrid System to pursue trademark protection across more than 130 participating jurisdictions through a single international filing. At the same time, companies seeking to enter the Saudi market will be able to include Saudi Arabia as part of a new international application or add the Kingdom to an existing international registration beginning October 8, reducing the need for separate national filing procedures.

Saudi Arabia has also adopted several country specific provisions under the Madrid Protocol. The Saudi Intellectual Property Authority will have up to 18 months to issue a provisional refusal of protection, rather than the default 12 month period available under the Protocol. If an opposition is filed by a third party, a refusal may be issued even after the 18 month period has elapsed. In addition, Saudi Arabia has elected to receive individual designation fees for international registrations that extend protection to the Kingdom, with the applicable fee schedule to be announced separately by WIPO.

Saudi Arabia's participation further broadens the reach of the Madrid System and continues the trend toward more efficient international trademark protection by allowing applicants to secure and manage rights across multiple jurisdictions through a centralized process.