Your product’s shape may be the first thing that attracts your customer, and the easiest thing to copy if you do not protect it. At Alfkr Intellectual Property, we handle industrial design registration in Saudi Arabia with the Saudi Authority for Intellectual Property (SAIP), from assessing the design’s eligibility for protection and searching registered designs, to preparing the drawings and filing and following up the application. The service is aimed at manufacturers, brand and store owners, designers of fashion, abayas, jewelry, furniture and packaging, and anyone who wants the appearance of their product to remain exclusively theirs. We work in both Arabic and English and can assist foreign companies with protecting their designs in Saudi Arabia.
Why Do You Need Industrial Design Registration in Saudi Arabia?
An industrial design protects the external appearance of a product: any two-dimensional composition of lines or colors, or any three-dimensional shape, that gives an industrial or handicraft product a special appearance, including textile designs. The value of registration shows in practical ways:
- A clear title against copiers: The law gives you the right to sue anyone who makes, sells or imports goods incorporating a wholly or substantially copied version of your design.
- Novelty is lost through display: Posting on Instagram, showing at an exhibition or test-selling before filing may be considered disclosure to the public that destroys the design’s novelty.
- Early filing closes the door: Anyone who used the design in good faith before your filing is entitled to continue using it, and the longer you wait, the greater this risk.
- Platform reports are stronger with a certificate: A registered design certificate strengthens your report to e-commerce marketplaces when copies appear.
A design protects “how the product looks”, not “how it works”. If your product’s advantage lies in how it works, the right tool is often a patent, and both may apply to the same product.
What We Offer
- Legal and design consultation to determine whether the design is eligible for protection and which tool suits it best.
- A similarity search of registered designs to ensure your design is distinct from them.
- Preparing the registration file and the images and drawings in accordance with the statutory requirements.
- Registering industrial designs locally and internationally to protect the design in your target markets.
- Following up the application, annual fees and notifications so you do not miss a deadline.
- Regular market monitoring to detect imitation or copying and take the necessary action.
- Legal representation in oppositions or copying claims, and in disputes concerning infringement of industrial designs.
How We Work With You
- Studying the design before any publication: We review the design, make sure it has not been disclosed to the public, and assess its novelty and distinctiveness.
- Similarity search: We compare your design with known and registered designs, since a minor modification to a known design is not enough for protection.
- Preparing images and drawings: Multiple consistent views on a neutral background, with a considered decision between line drawings and color images, because this determines the scope of what you protect.
- Electronic filing: The application is filed on SAIP’s services platform under the “industrial design” type, and once the invoice is paid, the application number and filing date are issued immediately.
- Formal examination and remedying deficiencies: We follow notifications and complete whatever SAIP requests within the set deadline, so that the application is not deemed never to have been filed.
- Protection after registration: We follow up annual fees and plan international expansion with you through the Hague Agreement or by filing in target countries within the priority period.
Do you have a new product, package or collection before launch? File first, then show it. Contact us to assess your design and get a free initial consultation.
Official Fees and Timelines
| Item | Value According to Official Sources |
|---|---|
| Design application filing fee | SAR 150 for individuals, and SAR 300 for businesses |
| Term of protection | 15 years from the filing date of the application, under Royal Decree No. (M/45) dated 10/03/1445 AH (it was 10 years before the amendment) |
| Annual fees | Paid at the beginning of each year starting from the year following filing, and doubled if payment is three months late |
| Priority period for industrial designs | 6 months from the first filing |
| Hague Agreement for international registration | In force in the Kingdom since 7 April 2025 |
| Sanction for infringement under the current law | Cessation of infringement and compensation, and a fine of up to SAR 100,000, doubled for repeat offences |
Government fees are subject to change, so we verify them with SAIP before every application for industrial design registration in Saudi Arabia; our professional fees are separate and we explain them to you before we begin.
Note: On 20 October 2026, the Council of Ministers approved a separate Designs Law as one of four new intellectual property laws, and neither its text nor its effective date has been published yet. The provisions of the current law remain in force until the new law takes effect, and postponing filing to wait for it is not advisable, as protection starts from the filing date.
Why Alfkr Intellectual Property?
- A comprehensive view of your product: We work in designs, trademarks, copyright and patents, so we choose the most suitable tool, or combination of tools, for your product’s appearance.
- From registration to enforcement: We do not stop at the certificate; we monitor the market and take legal action when copies appear.
- Clarity and commitment: Detailed reports and direct, ongoing communication at every stage.
- Cost versus value: We help you choose the designs worth registering, balancing legal spending against actual return.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does industrial design protection last in Saudi Arabia?
Fifteen years from the filing date of the application, following the amendment of the law by Royal Decree No. (M/45) dated 10/03/1445 AH, provided the annual fees are paid. Many sources still state ten years, which was the term before the amendment.
What are the fees for registering an industrial design?
The application filing fee is SAR 150 for individuals and SAR 300 for businesses according to SAIP’s service page, in addition to annual fees under the approved fee schedule. Fees are subject to change, and professional fees are separate from them.
I posted my design on Instagram. Can it still be registered?
Posting on social media may be considered disclosure to the public that destroys the design’s novelty. We therefore recommend filing before any publication, and if you have already posted it, ask for an assessment of your case before filing.
What is the difference between an industrial design and a patent?
An industrial design protects the external appearance of a product for 15 years, while a patent protects the technical solution or function for 20 years, and its requirements are stricter because it requires an inventive step and industrial applicability.
Does registration cover clothing and abaya designs?
Yes. The definition of an industrial design covers textile designs and the special appearance of products, including clothing, provided they are new and distinctive. The fast fashion cycle makes the timing of filing and the choice of designs worth registering an important decision.
Can I protect my design outside the Kingdom?
Yes. You can file in other countries within the six-month priority period while retaining your first filing date, or file an international application under the Hague Agreement, which has been in force in the Kingdom since 7 April 2025.
Protect your design before someone else gets there first. Contact us Sunday to Thursday, from 10 AM to 6 PM, on +966504644436 or by email at info@alfkr.com.
Related Services
- Trademark Registration in Saudi Arabia
- International Trademark Registration (Madrid)
- Copyright Protection and Registration of Works
- Patent Registration in Saudi Arabia
- IP Enforcement and Anti-Counterfeiting
The content of this page is general awareness information and does not constitute legal advice on your case.