Saudi Arabia leads the world in intellectual property awareness 2025
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has achieved another milestone, adding to its record of national accomplishments, as the Saudi Authority for Intellectual Property the results of its 2025 study measuring intellectual property awareness in the Kingdom. This study, conducted in collaboration with Umm Al-Qura University, revealed a significant increase in the overall awareness index, which reached 70.7% compared to 65.8% last year, representing a growth of 7.45% over 2024.
Context of the shift towards a knowledge economy
These figures cannot be viewed in isolation from the fundamental transformations taking place in the Kingdom under Vision 2030. Since the establishment of the Saudi Authority for Intellectual Property, the Kingdom has worked to consolidate efforts previously scattered across several ministries, aiming to build a robust system that protects rights and fosters innovation. This increased awareness is a natural consequence of the shift from a resource-based economy to a knowledge-based economy, where intangible assets, patents, and trademarks are a cornerstone of the GDP of developed nations.
Study details and national indicators
The field study included measuring three main axes to ensure the accuracy of the results: the basic concepts of intellectual property, the applicable regulations and laws, and the actual practices related to respecting rights. The sample covered thirteen administrative regions in the Kingdom, reflecting the comprehensive awareness across different demographic groups and geographic areas, and not limited to major cities only.
Global leadership in the WIPO Pulse report
Internationally, the Kingdom has solidified its leading position by achieving record-breaking results in the WIPO Pulse report, issued by the World Intellectual Property Organization. The report, which surveyed 35,500 participants from 74 countries, showed the Kingdom at the forefront globally with a national awareness rate of 80% regarding society's understanding of the vital role of intellectual property in promoting economic growth and stimulating innovation.
Economic and investment impact
This progress carries significant economic implications; increased awareness and respect for intellectual property rights are key factors in attracting foreign direct investment, as global companies seek secure environments that protect their innovations and products from imitation and piracy. This awareness also encourages local researchers and innovators to register their inventions, thus boosting the Kingdom's ranking in global innovation indices.
Institutional efforts to build capacity
The Authority affirmed that this progress is the result of several impactful initiatives, most notably the Intellectual Property Clinics, which provided guidance to innovators and businesses and contributed to raising compliance levels. The Intellectual Property Academy a pivotal role in building national capacity through specialized training programs targeting practitioners in both the public and private sectors, alongside ongoing awareness campaigns that covered all regions of the Kingdom, to instill a culture of respect for rights as an integral part of daily social behavior.
