Saudi Arabia is set to join the Madrid System following its deposit of the instrument of accession to the Madrid Protocol with WIPO on 8 July 2026, marking a significant development for trademark owners seeking efficient and streamlined international brand protection.

The Madrid Protocol will officially enter into force in Saudi Arabia on 8 October 2026. Saudi Arabia’s accession to the Madrid System will provide a more streamlined route for trademark protection between Saudi Arabia and other Madrid System members. With Saudi Arabia’s accession, the Madrid System will extend its reach to 133 members, further strengthening its role as a practical and cost-effective mechanism for securing trademark protection across multiple jurisdictions.

By virtue of this accession, Saudi Arabian trademark owners will be able to seek protection in Madrid System member countries through a single international application, while trademark holders from other member countries will be able to designate Saudi Arabia in their international registrations. Existing international registration holders will also be able to subsequently designate Saudi Arabia to extend protection to the Saudi market.

Saudi Arabia is one of the largest and most commercially significant markets in the Middle East. Its accession to the Madrid System is expected to provide greater flexibility for businesses managing international trademark portfolios and facilitate the expansion of brands between Saudi Arabia and other Madrid System member countries.

For businesses with existing or planned operations in Saudi Arabia, the new framework may offer opportunities to simplify filing strategies, centralize portfolio management and potentially reduce the administrative burden associated with obtaining and maintaining trademark protection across multiple jurisdictions.

However, trademark owners should carefully assess the most appropriate filing strategy for their portfolios, particularly where Saudi Arabia is already covered through national trademark registrations or where new applications are being planned.

WIPO has published Information Notice No. 35/2026, which provides further details, including information on applicable fees and time limits for provisional refusals.

Businesses with significant trademark portfolios in the GCC or plans to expand into Saudi Arabia should consider reviewing their existing trademark protection and international filing strategies ahead of 8 October 2026.

Our team at Trustwortha can assist with assessing existing trademark portfolios, evaluating national versus Madrid System filing strategies, and advising on the implications of Saudi Arabia’s accession for international trademark protection.

For advice on how Saudi Arabia’s accession to the Madrid System may affect your trademark portfolio, please contact us on [email protected].