By Hashim Wafa, Corporate & Cross-Border IP Lawyer at Legacy Partners – Trademark & IP Services. Published on July 28, 2026
Saudi Arabia has formally acceded to the Madrid Protocol, the international treaty that allows trademark owners to seek protection in multiple countries through a single application. The Kingdom deposited its instrument of accession with the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) on 8 July 2026, and the Protocol will enter into force in Saudi Arabia on 8 October 2026.
The move is one of the most significant developments for Middle East trademark filing strategy in recent years, and it changes how both foreign and Saudi businesses should approach trademark registration in the Kingdom
QUICK FACTS: SAUDI ARABIA & THE MADRID PROTOCOL
| Instrument deposited | 8 July 2026 |
| Protocol enters into force | 8 October 2026 |
| Administering authority | Saudi Authority for Intellectual Property (SAIP) |
| GCC members now in Madrid System | Bahrain, Oman, Qatar, UAE, Saudi Arabia (Kuwait remains outside) |
| Total Madrid System coverage | 117 members covering 132 countries |
| Local Power of Attorney (PoA) | Generally not required for Madrid designations unless a provisional refusal or opposition is issued |
What Is the Madrid Protocol and Why Does Saudi Arabia’s Accession Matter?
The Madrid Protocol is the treaty underpinning the Madrid System, which lets a trademark owner file one international application and designate protection across any number of member countries, rather than filing separate national applications in each jurisdiction. As the largest economy in the Middle East and a G20 member, Saudi Arabia’s accession is one of the most commercially significant expansions of the Madrid System in recent years. The Kingdom becomes the fifth Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) country to join, following Bahrain, Oman, Qatar and the UAE, leaving Kuwait as the only remaining GCC member outside the Madrid System.
When Does the Madrid Protocol Take Effect in Saudi Arabia?
Saudi Arabia deposited its instrument of accession with WIPO on 8 July 2026. Under the standard three-month accession timeline, the Madrid Protocol will enter into force in the Kingdom on 8 October 2026. From that date, Saudi Arabia can be designated in new and existing international applications, and Saudi trademark owners can use the Madrid System to seek protection abroad.
How Can Foreign Trademark Owners Designate Saudi Arabia?
Once the Protocol enters into force, any trademark owner domiciled in, with a real and effective industrial or commercial establishment in, or a national of a Madrid System member can designate Saudi Arabia based on a basic national or regional application or registration. This gives international brand owners a direct, single-filing route into the Saudi market for the first time, in place of a standalone national filing.
What Changes for Local Power of Attorney Requirements?
National trademark applications in Saudi Arabia require the appointment of a local agent and an apostilled or legalised Power of Attorney (PoA), and Saudi PoAs are valid for only five years, which adds ongoing administrative overhead. For Madrid designations, these formalities are generally avoided unless a provisional refusal or opposition is issued, meaningfully reducing the paperwork burden for international applicants.
How Does This Benefit Saudi Businesses Expanding Abroad?
The benefit runs both ways. Saudi trademark owners can now extend protection to the other 116 Madrid System members, covering 132 countries, through a single international application. This is particularly valuable for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), which can avoid filing separate applications — and the legalisation formalities that go with them — in each country of interest. Regional expansion is an immediate win: with four of the other five GCC countries already in the Madrid System, Saudi businesses can now reach much of the Gulf through one filing.
What Should Businesses Do to Prepare Before 8 October 2026?
Ahead of entry into force, businesses should:
- Review existing international registrations to identify candidates for a subsequent designation of Saudi Arabia.
- Coordinate trademark filing strategy across the GCC now that five of six member states participate in the Madrid System.
- Budget for Saudi-specific examination and opposition procedures, which continue to apply to Madrid designations.
- Confirm portfolio coverage aligns with Vision 2030-driven market entry or expansion plans.
- Monitor SAIP guidance for Saudi-specific procedural notices as the effective date approaches.
While the filing process becomes significantly simpler under Madrid, applicants should remain mindful that Saudi-specific examination practices, opposition procedures and other local requirements continue to apply once a designation is made.
