As of 2024, there are two trademark laws in force in Saudi Arabia, namely, Saudi Arabia Royal Decree No. M21/1423 on the Saudi Trademark Law (Saudi Arabia Cabinet Decision No. 140/1423 On the Approval of the Trademarks Law) and Saudi Arabia Royal Decree No. M51/1435 related to the adoption of the Gulf Cooperation Council Trademark Law. Saudi Arabia Royal Decree No. M21/1423 (Saudi Arabia Cabinet Decision No. 140/1423) came into force on 6 December 2002, while Saudi Arabia Royal Decree No. M51/1435 came into effect on 27 September 2016 after being published in the Official Gazette on 1 July 2016.

As there is uncertainty as to how Saudi Arabia Royal Decree No. M21/1423 (Saudi Arabia Cabinet Decision No. 140/1423) and Saudi Arabia Royal Decree No. M51/1435 should be applied, this Practice Note proposes to analyse the trademark regulations in Saudi Arabia, including the international conventions adhered to, the priority of Saudi Arabia Royal Decree No. M51/1435 based on the principle lex posterior derogat prior, and the trademark registration process under Saudi Arabia Royal Decree No. M51/1435.

TRIPS Agreement: Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights Agreement.