Saudi Arabia Joins the Madrid System from 8 October 2026

Trade mark owners with an interest in the Middle East will soon benefit from a simpler and more efficient route to securing protection in Saudi Arabia.

Saudi Arabia has deposited its instrument of accession to the Madrid Protocol, with membership taking effect on 8 October 2026. Once in force, Saudi Arabia will become part of WIPO’s Madrid System, expanding the system’s coverage to 133 countries in total.

This is a significant development for international brand owners, making it easier to obtain and manage trade mark protection in one of the region’s largest and most important markets.

What does this mean in practice?

From 8 October 2026, applicants will be able to:

• Designate Saudi Arabia in new Madrid international trade mark applications;

• Extend existing International Registrations to Saudi Arabia through a subsequent designation

• Manage Saudi Arabian rights centrally through the Madrid System alongside trade mark rights in other member countries

Until now, securing trade mark protection in Saudi Arabia generally required a separate national filing before the Saudi Authority for Intellectual Property (SAIP), often involving additional local procedures and administrative requirements.

Why is this important for brand owners?

1. Simpler Administration

The Madrid System allows brand owners to obtain and manage trade mark protection through a single international registration.

Rather than maintaining separate national registrations, many post-registration changes, such as ownership changes, assignments, name changes and renewals, can be handled centrally through WIPO, reducing administrative complexity.

2. Lower Costs and Greater Efficiency
For brand owners pursuing protection in multiple jurisdictions, the Madrid System can provide a more streamlined and cost-effective filing route than maintaining separate national applications and registrations.

Saudi Arabia’s accession therefore presents an opportunity to reduce both filing costs and administrative burden for international trade mark portfolios.

3. Easier Expansion of Existing Portfolios:

Brand owners with existing international registrations will be able to add Saudi Arabia through a subsequent designation, avoiding the need for a separate national filing and providing greater flexibility as commercial activities expand.

A significant development for the GCC

Saudi Arabia’s accession is particularly significant for businesses operating across the Gulf region.

From October 2026, five of the six Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states will be members of the Madrid System:

• Bahrain

• Oman

• Qatar

• Saudi Arabia

• United Arab Emirates

This leaves Kuwait as the only GCC member state that is not currently part of the Madrid System.

For many brand owners, this means that trade mark protection across most of the GCC can now be pursued through a single international filing strategy, making regional portfolio management considerably more straightforward, affordable and accessible.

A few points to keep in mind

While membership of the Madrid System simplifies the filing and administration process, it does not guarantee registration.

Applications designating Saudi Arabia will still be examined by SAIP under Saudi trade mark law. SAIP will retain the ability to raise objections and refuse protection in accordance with national legislation and examination practice. Many of the administrative efficiencies that come with using the Madrid System to apply for protection will then come back into effect.

Saudi Arabia has also declared an 18-month period for SAIP to notify provisional refusals, extending the standard Madrid System deadline of 12 months. Provisional refusals based on third-party oppositions may be issued after that period.

Looking ahead

Saudi Arabia is one of the Middle East’s most commercially significant markets and is becoming an increasingly important jurisdiction for international brand owners.

Brand owners with existing or planned activities in Saudi Arabia should therefore consider whether designation through the Madrid System could form part of their future international filing strategy.

How we can help

As Saudi Arabia joins the Madrid System, now is an ideal time to review your trade mark strategy for the GCC and wider Middle East.

Mewburn Ellis can assist with international filing programmes, Madrid System applications and subsequent designations, while working closely with trusted local counsel in Saudi Arabia where jurisdiction-specific advice or local representation is required. We can help develop a practical and cost-effective strategy for protecting and managing your trade mark portfolio across the region.

For further information, please contact a member of our trade mark team, who would be glad to assist you.