• Patent fees

Fees associated with the Saudi PCT national phase entry as well as other patent fees are available in the fee calculator.

• Deadline for the PCT national phase entry in Saudi Arabia

The term for entering PCT national phase in Saudi Arabia is 30 months from the priority date. Restoration of this term is not possible.

• Filing requirements in Saudi Arabia

The Arabic and English translations of the required documents must be submitted upon entering the Saudi PCT national phase entry. It is possible to submit the translation within 60 days from the date of the Saudi national phase entry.

For entry into the Saudi PCT national phase, an application must contain:
- a copy of the PCT request (claims, specification, drawings and abstract in Arabic and English);
- a copy of the specification;
- a copy of the International Publication;
- a copy of the International Search Report;
- name and address of the applicant(s) and/or inventor(s);
- priority data, if any.

The original Power of Attorney, duly legalized by the Saudi Consulate or authenticated by the Apostille, may be filed within 60 days from the date of the Saudi national phase entry.

If the Saudi PCT national phase application is filed by a person other than the inventor, a copy of the Assignment Deed between the applicant and the inventor must be submitted within 60 days from the national phase entry date.

• Examination of a PCT national phase patent application in Saudi Arabia

Applications are examined as to compliance with formal requirements and as to substance. Upon completion of the formal examination, the application is published. Substantive examination will be conducted if the fee for substantive examination is paid within three months from notification regarding the amount of this fee, which may vary due to the complexity of each application.

• Novelty grace period

Disclosure will be disregarded if it occurred:
- six months prior to filing of the application in Saudi Arabia or priority date (if any) and resulted from the abusive acts against the applicant or his legal predecessor;
- within twelve months prior to the filing or priority date (if any) and occurred at an officially recognised international exhibition in one of the Paris Union countries.

• Grant, validity term and maintenance fees

Patents in Saudi Arabia are valid for 20 years from the date of filing. Grant fee should be paid together with the publication fee within 90 days from the notification by the Office. Annual maintenance fees are due starting from the year following the international filing date and should be paid from January 1 to March 31 of each year. Late payment is possible within three months after the due date with no surcharge and within a further grace period of three months provided that the fee is paid in the double amount.

• Duration of registration procedure

In Saudi Arabia, it takes an average of 3-5 years from the national phase entry to obtain a patent.

• Utility Model

It is not possible to enter the national phase in Saudi Arabia as a utility model.

• Representation by a patent attorney

For foreign applicants, it is necessary to perform entry into the Saudi PCT national phase through an agent, a registered Saudi patent attorney.

• Note

Online Search Databases: Saudi Patent Applications, Saudi Patents.

Brief summary is based on the information provided by ONE WORLD INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY on 02.02.2024
Please contact us if the above information is not in conformity with Saudi IP Laws