Saudi Arabia sees 13% rise in patent filing to reach 8,029 in 2024
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia's intellectual property landscape continued its robust growth in 2024, with patent filings rising by 13.33 percent year on year to reach a record 8,029, according to the Saudi Authority for Intellectual Property.
The authority's annual statistical report highlighted significant expansion across all key IP categories, underscoring the Kingdom's ongoing transformation into a knowledge-based economy.
Patent applications from individuals surged by 62 percent, while filings by foreign applicants rose 15 percent to 4,921. The increase reflects rising global interest in protecting innovations within the Kingdom.
Trademark registrations totaled 31,834 in 2024, marking a 15.72 percent increase, while design filings grew by 8.75 percent. Voluntary copyright registration also saw a notable 63.15 percent jump, indicating greater public engagement with IP rights.
SAIP issued 4,355 patent certificates, 1,578 design registrations, and 1,504 copyright certificates throughout the year.
The report also noted that 96 percent of granted patents originated from institutions, highlighting the active role of universities and research centers in the innovation ecosystem. Individual inventors filed 2,139 patent applications — up from 1,320 in 2023—showing growing grassroots participation.
In terms of technical fields, information technology and software accounted for 25.77 percent of total patent filings. Library and document management comprised 57.16 percent, and applied technical inventions followed at 12.46 percent.
Public understanding of intellectual property also improved, with SAIP reporting an 8 percent rise in the national IP awareness index. This was attributed to expanded electronic services, streamlined procedures, and national initiatives aimed at safeguarding innovators' rights.
Internationally, Saudi Arabia's efforts have not gone unnoticed. The Kingdom recorded a 17.5 percent improvement in its score on the 2025 Global Intellectual Property Index, placing it among the top-performing countries out of 55 economies evaluated.
Saudi Arabia also ranked 24th globally in artificial intelligence patent output, with 1,189 AI-related patents filed—further cementing its commitment to technological advancement and innovation-led growth.
The Kingdom's achievements are the result of sweeping reforms to its IP framework, including enhanced legal protections and enforcement strategies that aim to foster a more competitive, innovation-driven economy.
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