Filing Requirements:

1. Power of attorney, legalized.

2. Extract from the commercial register, legalized.

3. Deed of assignment from the inventor(s), legalized.

4. Abstract of the invention in English and Arabic.

5. Technical specifications of the invention in English and Arabic.

6. Copy of priority document, if priority is claimed, certified.

* Documents 1 to 5 may be submitted within 60 days from filing date.

* Document 6 must be submitted within 90 days from filing date.

Opposition:

Patent applications are published in the Official Gazette upon acceptance. Oppositions may be filed within 3 months from publication date.

Search:

It is possible for pending and granted patents to be searched by title and patentee name.

Examination:

As to form.

Annuities:

A maintenance fee is due annually on the anniversary of the filing date. There is a 1-month grace period for late payment with a surcharge. (The Patent Office is still working on its patent system in preparation for implementing the new regulations and, to date, has not yet started accepting annuity payments).

Protection Term:

• The term of protection is 20 years from filing date.

Compulsory License:

A patent has to be worked. If the patent is not being fully exploited by the patentee within 3 years from the date of grant then the patent will be subject to compulsory licensing under the provisions of the law.

Novelty Requirements:

• Absolute novelty is required. However, disclosure of an invention in an official or officially recognized national/international exhibitions shall not be taken into consideration if it occurred within the 6-month grace period preceding the filing date of the patent application.

Special Protection Rights:

• Patents of Addition; Divisional Patents.