P1: Can a patent search be conducted?
No official search is available; such search may be conducted through our Published Patents Data Center.

P2: Can a patent application be filed without its complete documents?
Yes.

P3: Can convention priority be claimed? Paris Convention?
Yes.

P4: Can a registration be obtained for pharmaceutical products?
Yes.

P5: What is the term of protection of a patent and from which date is it calculated? Can it be extended?
20 years, from the date of paying the 1st official filing receipt.
 
P6: Is there a novelty requirement? Is it local or worldwide?
Yes - Worldwide.

P7: Are utility models granted protection in your country under the Current Law?
Yes as patents; there is no special register for utility models.

P8: Is the patent protection available for software alone, or must the software be coupled with computer hardware in order to permit patent application?
No.

P9: Can the specifications or claims be amended?
Not after the payment of the publication fees.

P10: In what language should specifications and claims of the patent be filed?
English, French and Arabic.

P11: Is working of the invention required to keep protection in force and, if so, can the working requirements be satisfied by importation or nominal working?
Yes.

P12:What are the conditions that might lead to a compulsory license?
No working of the invention for three consecutive years, or it was the Government decided that it needs it for security and national reasons.

P13: Must assignments be recorded within a certain period?
Yes within five months.

P14: Does the Patent Law provide for licenses or registered users?
Yes.

P15: Does the Patents Office publish the patent applications in the Official Gazette?
Only the Certificate of Registration with the abstract in Arabic.