Saudi Arabia Joins the Madrid Protocol: What Trademark Owners Need to Know Ahead of October 2026

Release Time：2026-07-24 14:18Author：Views：0

On July 8, 2026, Saudi Arabia deposited its instrument of accession to the Madrid Protocol with WIPO, and the treaty will enter into force for Saudi Arabia on October 8, 2026, bringing the Madrid Union to 117 members. The accession includes several country-specific declarations that will shape how brand owners use the Madrid System to seek protection in Saudi Arabia.

Background

Until now, businesses seeking trademark protection in Saudi Arabia had to file directly with the Saudi Authority for Intellectual Property (SAIP), a separate national process outside the Madrid System. With this accession, Saudi Arabia becomes designable through a single international application filed via the Madrid System, alongside other member jurisdictions.

Key Changes

Saudi Arabia's accession was accompanied by four formal declarations/notifications that define the practical rules going forward:

Extended refusal period: Under Article 5(2)(b) and (c) of the Protocol, the standard 12-month time limit for Saudi Arabia to notify a provisional refusal is extended to 18 months, and refusals arising from opposition proceedings may be notified even after that period expires.

Individual fee instead of revenue share: Under Article 8(7)(a), Saudi Arabia will collect an individual fee for designations, subsequent designations, and renewals, rather than receiving a share of the standard supplementary/complementary fees. The specific fee amount will be announced by WIPO in a separate notice.

No division of international registrations: Under Rule 27bis(6), Saudi law does not provide for division of a registration, so the Saudi Office will not accept requests to divide an international registration.

No merger of international registrations: Under Rule 27ter(2)(b), for the same reason, requests to merge registrations resulting from a prior division will also not be accepted.

Practical impact: Filers designating Saudi Arabia should plan for a longer examination timeline than in most Madrid jurisdictions, budget for an as-yet-unpublished individual fee, and avoid relying on registration division/merger as a portfolio management tool in this jurisdiction.

For the full list of Members of the Madrid System, please refer to: Member List of Madrid Union

Source: WIPO

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