Since 8 October 2026, international trademark registration through the Madrid System has been available in Saudi Arabia to owners of Saudi marks with a single application: filed through the Saudi Authority for Intellectual Property (SAIP), in one language, with fees paid in one currency, and covering whichever member countries you choose. At Alfkr Intellectual Property, we help you build a protection plan for your mark in your target markets, from assessing the base mark and selecting countries, to preparing the international application and following it up.
This service is aimed at manufacturers and exporters, franchisors planning branches outside the Kingdom, online stores shipping to several countries, and startups preparing for investment rounds that count their brand among their assets. We work in both Arabic and English and can also assist foreign companies with protecting their marks in Saudi Arabia.
Why You Need International Trademark Registration (Madrid) from Saudi Arabia
Registering your mark in the Kingdom protects it there, but in every other market protection is national and governed by that country’s law. A business that delays protecting its mark in a market it exports to may find that a distributor or competitor has registered it there first. Licensing a mark that is not protected in the branch’s country also weakens the franchisor’s negotiating position, and some international platforms sometimes require proof of trademark registration.
The Madrid System shortens this path: the more member countries you target, the greater the benefit of a single international application compared with separate applications, with centralized management of renewals and changes.
What We Offer
- Assessing the base mark at SAIP and its strength, since the international registration depends on it for five years.
- Conducting a search for the mark inside and outside the Kingdom, and giving a legal and technical opinion before filing.
- Mapping your markets: selecting the member countries that suit your business, and weighing the Madrid System against direct national filing for countries outside it.
- Drafting the list of goods and services consistently with the list of the base mark.
- Preparing the international application and filing it through SAIP as the office of origin, with a fee estimate before filing.
- Following up the application with WIPO and the designated countries, and handling provisional refusals in coordination with our accredited partner law firms outside the Kingdom.
- Post-registration management: subsequent designations to add new countries, renewal, and recording changes such as a change of name or address or an assignment of ownership.
Planning to enter a new market? Tell us which countries you are targeting, and get a free initial consultation on the best route to protect your mark there.
How We Work With You
- Initial consultation: We learn about your current and target markets, and the goods and services you want to protect.
- Reviewing the base mark: We confirm that your mark has a valid application or registration at SAIP; if it does not, we start with the national registration first.
- Selecting countries and classes: We verify each country’s membership of the system and estimate the fees according to the selected countries and classes.
- Preparing the international application: The application is filed through SAIP, which checks that it corresponds to the base mark and then forwards it to WIPO.
- Formal examination and recording: WIPO examines the application for formalities, then records it in the International Register, publishes it and notifies the designated countries.
- National examination: Each country’s office examines the mark under its own law; if no provisional refusal is issued within the applicable period, the mark is deemed protected there.
- Ongoing follow-up: We follow up any provisional refusal and remind you of renewal, which takes place every ten years directly with WIPO.
Official Fees and Timelines
These are the main timelines and fees according to WIPO’s information notices and fee schedule at the time this page was prepared:
| Item | Amount or Period | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Entry into force of the Madrid Protocol in the Kingdom | 8 October 2026 | After the instrument of accession was deposited on 8 July 2026 |
| WIPO basic fee | CHF 653, or CHF 903 for a mark in color | Paid once per application |
| Complementary and supplementary fees | CHF 100 for each country that does not charge an individual fee, and CHF 100 for each class beyond the third | According to WIPO’s fee schedule |
| Individual fees | Set by each country that declares one; for designating Saudi Arabia: CHF 1,397 per class | They vary widely and may be charged per class; the Saudi Arabia amount is per WIPO Information Notice No. 37/2026, effective 8 October 2026 |
| Office of origin fee (SAIP) | According to SAIP’s fee schedule | We verify it before filing |
| Provisional refusal period | One year or 18 months, depending on the country’s declaration | The Kingdom has declared an 18-month period |
| Dependence on the base mark | 5 years from the date of the international registration | If the base mark lapses, the international registration lapses with it |
| Renewal | Every 10 years | Directly with WIPO |
If your base mark is not yet registered, the fees for registering it with SAIP are SAR 1,000 for the application and SAR 500 for publication after acceptance, with a 60-day publication period for oppositions, then SAR 5,000 for registration, payable within 30 days of the final invoice being issued, for a total of SAR 6,500.
- Official fees are subject to change, and the exact total can be estimated using WIPO’s Madrid System fee calculator.
- According to the fee schedule in the implementing regulations of the GCC Trademark Law, national mark fees are listed for one mark in one class, so they apply per class; we check the invoice on every application.
- Our professional fees are separate from official fees, and we provide them in a detailed quotation on request. Local agent fees may also apply if a response to a provisional refusal is required in a particular country.
Why Alfkr Intellectual Property?
- An integrated brand strategy: We treat registration, protection, international expansion and periodic renewal as one plan, not separate procedures.
- A network outside the Kingdom: We handle disputes and litigation outside the Kingdom through our accredited partner law firms and in coordination with global partners.
- Clarity at every stage: Detailed reports and direct, ongoing communication, so you know where your application stands in each country.
- Individual attention: We treat every client as a partner and build the plan around your actual markets, not a ready-made list.
Frequently Asked Questions
Has Saudi Arabia joined the Madrid System?
Yes. The Kingdom deposited its instrument of accession to the Madrid Protocol with the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) on 8 July 2026, and the Protocol entered into force for the Kingdom on 8 October 2026.
Do I need a registered mark in Saudi Arabia first?
You need a base mark at the Saudi Authority for Intellectual Property, and a filed application is sufficient. However, the international registration remains dependent on it for five years; if the base mark is refused or cancelled during that period, the international registration falls with it, so it is preferable for your base mark to be strong.
How much does international trademark registration through Madrid cost?
The official cost consists of the WIPO basic fee (CHF 653 for a black-and-white mark, or CHF 903 for a mark in color), the complementary or individual fees for each designated country, and SAIP’s office of origin fee. The total depends on the countries and classes you choose; our professional fees are separate and provided on request.
Does the Madrid System cover all GCC countries?
No. The UAE, Bahrain, Oman and Qatar are members of the system, and the Kingdom has become the fifth GCC country to join it, while Kuwait remains outside it, and protecting a mark there requires a direct national application.
What happens if a country refuses to protect my mark?
A designated country’s office may issue a provisional refusal on grounds of similarity, lack of distinctiveness or an opposition. The response is made before that office under its own law, and many countries require the appointment of a local agent to do so. A refusal in one country does not affect protection in the other countries.
Is an international registration a worldwide trademark that protects me everywhere?
No. An international registration is a bundle of national protections in the member countries you designate only, and in each country it is subject to that country’s law on use, cancellation and enforcement. If counterfeiting occurs in a given country, the infringer is sued before its courts and under its laws.
Start Your International Brand Protection Plan
Before you ship your first order or sign your first franchise agreement outside the Kingdom, make sure your mark is protected there. Contact us so we can review your base mark and your target markets.
Phone and WhatsApp: +966504644436 | Email: info@alfkr.com | Working hours: Sunday to Thursday, 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM.
Related Services
- Trademark Registration in Saudi Arabia
- Copyright Protection and Registration of Works
- Patent Registration in Saudi Arabia
- Industrial Design Registration
- IP Enforcement and Anti-Counterfeiting
Disclaimer: The content of this page is general information intended to introduce the service, and is not legal advice on any specific case. The fees and timelines mentioned are taken from official sources at the time of preparation and may change, so please consult the competent authority before taking any action.