Yes.

Yes. Saudi Arabia has become a member of the Paris Convention as of March 11, 2004.

Yes.

20 years from the application filing date.

No.

Absolute universal novelty is stipulated in the Law. Any public disclosure before the application filing date or its priority application would destroy the novelty requirements.

The utility model is not available.

Software may be protected under the Copyright Law. An invention relating to and/or coupled with hardware may be filed as a patent application, provided that the patentability criteria are complied with.

Yes, provided that such amendments do not introduce any substantial change to the contents of the original application.

Yes. The annuity according to the new Patent Law is due at the beginning of each calendar year (January 1st) subsequent to the year in which the application was filed. The payment of the annuity fees can be made within a period of three months (ending on March 31st of each year).

 A grace period of another (3) three months ending on June 30th of each year is allowed with a payment of double fees.

In Arabic language. The English text is optional.

Working of the invention is required for avoiding that SAIP grants compulsory license for others.  

If the patentee has not exploited his invention or has exploited it in an inadequate fashion unless justified with a legitimate excuse, for a period of four years from the application filing date or three years from the granting date whichever expires later, the Patent Office may grant a compulsory license to a third party upon an application submitted thereof, provided that the applicant for the compulsory license proves that he has exerted-over a reasonable period of time-efforts in order to obtain a contractual license of reasonable commercial conditions, or for reasonable financial compensation.

No specific period is stipulated for recording the assignment. However, it is highly recommended to record the same as early as possible.

Yes, it is possible to license a patent and record the same at the Patent Office.

Yes, electronic publication only.