RIYADH. Saudi Arabia has introduced a new digital platform for trademark enforcement at its borders. The platform, called Tahaqaq, gives brand owners a more direct and structured channel into the customs system than the notification-based process it replaces.
The Saudi Authority for Intellectual Property (SAIP) launched Tahaqaq in the pilot phase in partnership with the Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority (ZATCA). It replaces the old notification-based system, in which rights holders reported problems after the fact, with a system that lets them register trademarks in advance, by class. Customs officers can then check incoming shipments against that record.
SAIP says a final phase will follow the pilot, extending Tahaqaq to all customs ports and all registered trademarks, fully replacing the current system. SAIP has said it expects the rollout to be completed within about two months, though it has not confirmed whether the platform is running nationwide yet.
How Suspected Fakes Are Handled
The new procedure changes how Saudi Customs treats suspected counterfeits. Under the old system, suspect goods were typically detained outright. Under Tahaqaq, importers can generally keep the goods after signing a written undertaking not to sell, distribute, or otherwise dispose of them. Customs keeps samples and notifies the brand owner's registered agent through the platform, along with photos of the samples and copies of the shipping documents. The rights holder then makes a remote authenticity assessment.
If the rights holder confirms the goods are counterfeit, two paths are available. The registered agent can confirm the infringement without filing a civil case; customs then refers the matter to criminal prosecution. Or the rights holder can pursue a civil claim, which can run alongside criminal proceedings and gives the brand owner more direct involvement in the case.
Registration Is Voluntary
SAIP has stated that registration is voluntary. But rights holders who are not registered on Tahaqaq will not receive the automated notifications that now drive the enforcement process. No recordal means no alert, and no alert means no opportunity to assess a shipment before it moves on.
SAIP describes the platform as part of a broader effort to streamline reporting, strengthen enforcement, and improve service quality for the private sector.
Recordal Requires Legal Coordination
Recording a trademark on Tahaqaq requires class-by-class filing and ongoing maintenance to keep records current. Most companies are handling this through local legal representatives rather than in-house teams. Lawyers advise that an incorrectly recorded or unmonitored portfolio undermines the purpose of registering at all.
Context
Tahaqaq follows a broader pattern among major trading economies: shifting customs enforcement toward pre-emptive, data-driven systems rather than reactive detention. For companies operating in Saudi Arabia, the platform offers a faster route to flagging and assessing counterfeit shipments, available to those who register before the rollout reaches their ports.
Trademark owners with registered marks in Saudi Arabia are advised to begin the recordal process and coordinate with authorized legal counsel.