Innovators developing artificial intelligence technologies in Saudi Arabia can now register and protect their inventions through a fully electronic patent process, with expanded legal protections and an accelerated examination track for AI-related applications. Patent applications are filed online in Arabic through the dedicated SAIP portal, not through Absher, Muqeem, Qiwa, Najiz, Nafath, or Tawakkalna.
The standard national patent filing fee for legal entities filing online in Arabic is 800 SAR, while individuals, micro-enterprises with up to 49 employees, and research institutions pay a reduced 400 SAR. Requesting substantive examination costs 2,000 SAR for legal entities, with reduced rates for individuals and smaller entities. Once approved, the publication and grant fee is 1,000 SAR, payable within three months of notification.
Invention patents are protected for 20 years from the filing date, provided annual maintenance fees are paid on time. These annuities start at 500 SAR in the first year for enterprises and 250 SAR for individuals, rising by 500 SAR annually for enterprises — reaching up to 10,000 SAR in the 20th year for enterprises and 5,000 SAR for individuals.
Fast Track for AI Inventions
To speed up the process, applicants can use the Fast Track Examination (FTE) Program, which delivers a decision in a shorter time than the normal path and covers AI-related inventions. The FTE fee for legal entities is 5,000 SAR. Applicants first submit their national patent application via the SAIP portal, then file a fast-track request through the patent services catalog, pay the required fees online, and receive an expedited decision.
For international applicants entering the national phase via the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT), the national phase entry fee in Saudi Arabia is 2,000 SAR, in addition to standard filing and examination fees. The move strengthens Saudi Arabia's push to become a regional hub for technology and innovation, giving startups, researchers, and companies clearer and faster ways to safeguard their intellectual property.
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