Saudi individual patent filings surge 102% in 2025

Bali immigration arrests 62 foreigners in crackdown on violators of local laws, customs

RIYADH: Patent applications filed by individuals in Saudi Arabia rose by 102 percent in 2025 from the previous 12 months, accelerating from a 62 percent year-on-year increase in 2024.

Data released in January showed that such filings rose 96 percent to 3,942 last year, from 2,007 in 2024.

The Saudi Authority for Intellectual Property’s 2025 statistical report highlighted expansion in key innovation indicators, reflecting the Kingdom’s ongoing shift toward a knowledge-based economy.

There was also a 59 percent year-on-year increase in direct filings, indicating an increased reliance on streamlined digital channels for protecting innovations.

The authority attributed the rise to efforts to simplify filing procedures and enhance the user experience, as well as growing public awareness of intellectual property rights.

Foreign activity also expanded, with China leading design registration applications. Filings from China rose 262 percent, while design certificates granted to Chinese applicants increased 235 percent.

The report also highlighted increased engagement from major national firms, with Public Investment Fund-backed companies and startups all stepping up efforts to safeguard their intellectual assets.

The authority said the report served as a key reference for policymakers, investors and innovators to monitor trends and identify opportunities across the Kingdom’s intellectual property landscape.

As part of its broader progress, Saudi Arabia improved its score in the Global Intellectual Property Index by 17.5 percent in 2025, placing it among the fastest improving economies out of 55 countries evaluated.