Saudi Authority for Intellectual Property Issues Executive Regulation to Launch Geographical Indications Regime

RIYADH - The Saudi Authority for Intellectual Property (SAIP) has issued the implementing regulation for the Kingdom’s new Geographical Indications (GI) Protection Law, marking the start of official procedures to register, use, and enforce GIs in Saudi Arabia. The regulation, published in Umm Al-Qura under SAIP Decision 2026/39/01 (Decision 39), gives practical implementation to the GI law approved by the Council of Ministers in November 2025.

This executive regulation outlines the steps that producers and collective groups must follow when applying for GI status, defines the conditions for use, and provides a framework for enforcing the protection of origin-linked products from imitation. By establishing clear administrative and legal rules, SAIP’s decision aims to create a predictable framework that supports producers who link their goods to a specific place, reputation, or production method.

For Saudi businesses, the GI regime offers a strategic tool to move beyond commodity pricing and to capture value through recognition of quality, authenticity, and regional identity. Producers of foodstuffs, crafts, and other region-specific goods will now be able to seek formal recognition, enhancing market differentiation at home and abroad, while also gaining legal recourse against any misleading use of their product names.