There is some element of harmonization with common standards available across the different Arab countries, though each country has the primary responsibility for the regulation of the trademark matters within its jurisdiction and consequently each has its own trademark laws with slight differences in the procedural aspects. The standard definition of a trademark is common and the absolute grounds of registration are relatively the same with some minor differences. In Saudi Arabia, for example, the trademark law is to be used in conjunction with the Shari’a law (the body of Islamic religious law).
With the exception of Morocco and Lebanon, ex-officio examination on relative grounds is performed in all countries. Also, nearly all countries except Lebanon and Algeria provide opposition proceedings prior to registration. Apart from Tunisia, decisions of TMOs in opposition proceedings are binding. The length of protection of a trademark and the method of renewing a trademark is almost the same – 10 years in nearly all countries (with the exception of Lebanon, West Bank, Gaza and Saudi Arabia).