A country designated through the Madrid System can receive payment in one of two ways. The default is a share of standard fees that WIPO collects. The alternative, under Article 8(7)(a), is to set an individual fee. That amount cannot exceed what the country charges for a national application covering the same goods and services. Saudi Arabia chose to set its own fee. Because these rates sit close to national filing costs, designating Saudi Arabia via this international route does not yield direct filing fee discounts.
The Fee Schedule
- Application or subsequent designation, per class: CHF 1,397
- Collective or certification mark, per class: CHF 1,719
- Renewal, per class: CHF 1,397
- Renewal during the grace period, per class: CHF 1,612
Every amount is charged per class with no separate base fee.
Strategic Cost Threshold: National Versus Madrid
When factoring in WIPO international basic fees (CHF 653 for black and white or CHF 903 for color marks), single class or double class applications routed through the Madrid Protocol will almost always cost more than filing directly through the Saudi Authority for Intellectual Property portal. National fees total SAR 6,500 per class across a ten year term. Portfolios covering four or more classes should be cost compared before submission.
When the Fees Apply
The amounts are payable where Saudi Arabia is designated in an international application received by the office of origin on or after 8 October 2026, a subsequent designation received on or after that date, or an international registration renewed on or after that date. For new applications, the critical date is when the home office receives the paperwork rather than when WIPO records it.
Procedural Quirks and Local Pitfalls
- Mandatory Local Representation on Refusal: If the Saudi authority issues a provisional refusal or a third party files an opposition, foreign applicants must appoint a licensed local trademark attorney to handle contentious proceedings.
- Eighteen Months to Refuse: Saudi Arabia declared under Article 5(2)(b) and (c) that the local office has 18 months rather than 12 to notify a provisional refusal. Refusals based on opposition can arrive even later.
- No Division or Merging of Designations: Under Rule 27bis(6) and Rule 27ter(2)(b) of the common regulations, Saudi Arabia notified WIPO that national law lacks provisions for dividing or merging registrations. If an office action targets a subset of goods, applicants cannot split off unaffected items. Specifications must be airtight from day one, and clearance searches must cover both Latin script and Arabic transliterations.
- Collective and Certification Marks: The higher fee tier applies to collective and certification marks, which require strict compliance with local regulations governing use.
- Dependency and Central Attack: For its first five years, an international registration remains tied to the home basic mark. If the home registration fails, the Saudi designation falls with it.
Action Items Before 8 October
- Audit Filing Timelines: Ready applications can be filed nationally before 8 October. Mark schedules that can wait may benefit from centralized management.
- Run Class Calculations: Calculate exact currency conversions of CHF 1,397 per class against local schedules.
- Refine Specifications: Eliminate overly broad terms that risk total blockages due to the ban on division.
- Track Renewals: Renewals occurring on or after 8 October trigger the new individual fee structure.
The Wider Picture
Saudi Arabia's accession to the Madrid Protocol coincides with regional updates, including the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain joining the Locarno Agreement. Rights holders managing Middle Eastern portfolios should expect significant shifts in filing strategies.
Abou Naja Intellectual Property advises rights holders across the Gulf Cooperation Council on trademark filing strategy, international registrations, and portfolio management. To review your Saudi filing programme ahead of 8 October, contact our team.