Patents: Saudi Arabia

General Information

International Agreements : Paris Convention, GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) & PCT.

Novelty Requirements : Absolute worldwide Novelty

Claiming priority : No – regardless of accession to Paris Convention

Examination : As to formalities

Protection Period : 15 Hijra (Islamic) Years (which is about 14 years & 6 months) – and extendible for another 5 Hijra years.

Publication : Yes - after Granting decision in the Official Gazette.

Annuity Payments : Annually after the Grant of the patent

Grace period for Annuity payments : 3 months with double the fees.

Compulsory Licensing : Yes – if Patent not exploited within 2 years (and extendible for another 2) after granting decision.

Working or nominal working of Patents/Inventions : Yes

Note : Saudi Arabia is also a member of the GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) through which protection can be extended to Saudi Arabia.

Filing Requirements

Patent Filing Requirements

1. A power of attorney executed in the name of the applicant duly legalized up to the 
   Saudi Consulate.
   
2. A notarized and legalized deed of assignment, if any, executed by the inventor(s), 
   assigning the patent rights to the applicant.
   
3. Two copies of the specification in English and Arabic prepared strictly in the following order: a- The abstract (not exceeding one page).
   b- Background of the invention.
   c- Summary description of the invention.
   d- Brief description of the drawings, if any.
   e- Full description of the invention.
   f- Claims.
   
4. Two sets of the formal drawings; one set of them should be without numerals.
   
5. Name(s) and Address(es) of the inventor(s)
   
6. A list of the home and/or foreign applications stating:
   a- Whether or not the application has been submitted before to the Saudi Patent Office.
   b- Whether or not the invention has been filed in other countries (including the home 
   country); if yes, provide the following:

• Country of filing.
  
• Application number (s) and filing date (s).
  
• Publication number (if any) and date of publication in case of publication of the invention in the home country or in any foreign country or the number and date of the letters patent, if it has been granted in any country.
  
• Class of the patent in accordance with the international classification (if known).

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