Saudi National Applications (Direct Filing - Paris Convention)
Requirements
- Notarized Power of Attorney: Executed by the applicant and Apostilled/legalized up to the Saudi Arabian Consulate.
- Deed of Assignment (if applicable): Executed by the Inventor(s), Apostilled/legalized.
- Patent Text: English and Arabic translation is required.
- Certified Priority Documents: With simple English translation, if applicable (not required for PCT National Phase Entry).
- Only e-copies of the above documents are required.
Protection Period:
Patents are protected for 20 years from the filing date.
PCT National Phase Applications
• Inventor’s assignments are generally not required unless specifically requested during the formal examination process.
• The Saudi Patent Office (SPO) has adopted a new annuity calculation method, basing annuity years on the international filing year of the PCT application.
PCT International Applications
The Saudi Patent Office now accepts PCT international applications, allowing filings directly through the SPO at the Saudi Authority for Intellectual Property (SAIP).
Patent Renewal Services
Managing patent renewals is critical for ensuring uninterrupted protection. Our automated IP renewal technology simplifies the process, offering:
- Automated Monitoring: Timely reminders and payment processing to avoid lapses.
- Efficient Annuity Management:
- Annuities are due at the beginning of each year following the filing year and must be paid by March 31.
Patent Recordals:
Keeping accurate patent ownership records is essential. Our expert team provides comprehensive support for patent recordals and ensures all required documents meet jurisdiction-specific requirements, as well as expert guidance on the complex legal procedures.
- Requirements:
- Notarized Power of Attorney: Executed by the applicant and Apostilled/legalized up to the Saudi Arabian Consulate.
- Deed of Assignment/Change of Name document/Merger document/ License agreement: Apostilled/legalized.
GCC Patent System:
The GCC Patent Office (GCCPO) ceased accepting new patent filings under its previous unitary system which covered Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Oman, Bahrain, Qatar, and Kuwait following the GCC Supreme Council’s decision on 5 January 2021. Under this former system, a single patent application, examination, and grant process provided protection across all six member states, along with centralized annuity payments.
Later in 2021, a new amended patent law and regulations were introduced, transforming the GCCPO into a designation-based system. Under this system, applicants must now select specific GCC countries for protection.
Key Highlights of the New Designation System:
- Applications filed before 6 January 2021 continue under the former unitary system and remain enforceable across all six GCC member countries.
- The GCCPO resumed accepting new applications on 1 January 2023, now processed under the new designation model.
- Initially, applicants could designate Bahrain and Kuwait; Qatar was added as a designation option from 1 July 2023.
- The GCCPO handles filing and examination, after which approved applications are transferred to the designated national offices for: o Publication | o Granting | o Issuance as national patents
Annuity Payments:
- Years 1–3: Paid to the GCC Patent Office
- Subsequent years: Paid directly to the designated national office(s) upon patent issuance
Priority Claims:
- Although all six GCC countries are members of the Paris Convention and the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT), the GCCPO itself is not a member of either.
- As a result, priority claims must be filed within 12 months from the earliest priority date, in line with the GCC Patent Law.
