The Saudi Intellectual Property Office has notified the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) that it will begin functioning as an International Searching Authority (ISA) and an International Preliminary Examining Authority (IPEA) under the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) on 15 December 2024.

This makes the Saudi IPO the 25th international search and examination authority in the world, and only the second in the Arabic-speaking part of the world, alongside the Egyptian Patent Office, which was appointed as an ISA and an IPEA in 2013.

The Saudi IPO was unanimously appointed by all 193 WIPO members during the 55th session of the PCT Assembly held in Geneva from 6 to 14 July 2023.

International patent applicants in WIPO member states will be able to choose the Saudi IPO as one of the search bodies authorized by WIPO to issue a search report. The Saudi IPO has implemented the necessary quality standards, established electronic systems and developed strategic plans to recruit and train examiners to enable them to perform the search and examination process.

Source: WIPO website