To file a patent in Saudi Arabia, the process must be conducted through the Saudi Authority for Intellectual Property (SAIP), which is responsible for managing intellectual property registration applications, including patents, in Saudi Arabia.
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What is a patent in Saudi Arabia?
Saudi Arabia grants patents as exclusive rights for inventions, which can be products or processes that introduce a new method or offer a technical solution to a problem.
How to file a patent in Saudi Arabia?
In Saudi Arabia, the official language for patent filing is Arabic, and patent applications must be submitted in Arabic. Filing a patent application in a foreign language is generally not possible.
Also, you may need to file a trademark in Saudi Arabia.
What are the required documents needed to file a patent in Saudi Arabia?
- Full name and address of the applicant and inventors, whether an individual or a corporation.
- A patent description: Specification, claims, and abstract. Drawings, if applicable.
- Power of Attorney, duly signed by the applicant.
- Translations (if necessary): In Saudi Arabia, the official language for patent filing is Arabic. If your application documents are in a language other than Arabic, you may need to provide Arabic translations of the application documents.
- Certified copy of the Priority Application. Not necessary for PCT cases.
How is the Patent process in Saudi Arabia?
- Application submission: The procedure can be initiated by submitting the form and the complete documentation of the patent application.
- Formal Examination: SAIP conducts a formal examination of the patent application to verify completeness and compliance with requirements.
If deficiencies are identified, you will be notified to address them within a specified time frame.
- Publication: After the formal examination and if the application is in order, the patent application may be published in an official gazette or a designated publication platform to notify the public.
Third parties have the opportunity to submit observations or oppositions within the initial 90 days of publication. - Substantive Examination: SAIP conducts a substantive examination to assess the patentability of the invention. This includes evaluating novelty, inventive steps, and industrial applicability.
- Grant: If the invention meets all patentability requirements and the examination process is successful, SAIP will grant the patent.
You will receive a certificate of patent registration.
Patent term:
Patents in Saudi Arabia last for 20 years, starting from the filing date of the application.
Average time from filing to grant:
The average time from filing to granting a patent in Saudi Arabia is from 3 to 5 years.
Grant, validity term and maintenance fees
Once Saudi Arabia grants a patent, it remains valid for 20 years. The patent holder must pay maintenance fees annually, calculated from the international filing date.
The first annual fee is due on or before the second anniversary of the international PCT filing date (or the national filing date for Paris Convention applications). In other words, the payment must be made before entering the third year.
After that, the patent holder must pay renewal fees every year in advance, before each filing date anniversary.
Some Extra Facts
Representation by a patent attorney
Foreign patent applicants need to prosecute a patent application in Saudi Arabia through an attorney or agent registered in the country.
Check out our blog for more information in Intellectual Property.
Do you need to file a Patent in another country?
This content may suffer modifications due to updates in the official regulations of Saudi Arabia.
