The regulations for marketing names of economic cities and special economic zones, recently approved by the Cabinet, set several matters to be observed in the proposed marketing name. First, it must have meaning and indicate the purpose, goal, or activities to be carried out in the city or zone. It must also be innovative, include Arabic or Arabized terms or foreign words, and refer to the geographical scope, identifying feature, or distinctive value of the city or zone.

The name must not carry any marks or contents that stir ethnic or religious sensitivity.

It is also required that the marketing name be clear and simple, not cause confusion, and be easily reachable to the target group. It must not carry any marks or contents that lead to political, ethnic, or religious sensitivity, or a political, military, or religious meaning. It must not resemble a trademark, trade name, or geographical indication registered in the Kingdom or protected under agreements to which the Kingdom is a party, unless the applicant is its owner or authorized to use it.

The marketing name must not resemble the name of a country, region, city, emblem, or symbol representing any state, international, regional, or Arab organization, or any of its institutions, nor resemble any marketing name approved under special regulatory provisions that falls outside the scope of cities and zones.

The regulations stipulate the formation of a committee named 'Committee for Reviewing Requests for Marketing Names of Cities and Zones,' headquartered at the Ministry of Investment, chaired by the same ministry, and including members from the Ministries of Media, Industry and Mineral Resources, Transport and Logistics; the Authority for Cities and Special Economic Zones; the General Authority of Civil Aviation; the Saudi Authority for Intellectual Property; the Saudi Investment Marketing Authority; and the Center for Special Economic Zones in Riyadh City.

The committee is responsible for issuing a guide clarifying the technical requirements for a marketing name request, examining and studying requests, verifying compliance with technical requirements and the provisions of these regulations, preparing its work rules and meeting mechanisms, and issuing recommendations.

The regulations set out procedures for submitting a request to approve or change a marketing name. The applicant submits the proposed marketing name to its regulatory body, which forwards it to the committee. The committee reviews the request according to the regulations and informs the regulatory body of its decision, pending completion of necessary steps. If the committee deems the name unsuitable, the regulatory body returns the request to the applicant for further review, then resubmission according to the regulations. If the committee deems the name suitable, the regulatory body submits the proposal, including the committee's recommendation, to its supervising entity for approval in accordance with standard regulatory procedures, with final approval by a Cabinet decision.

The regulations set a maximum period of 30 days for deciding on marketing name requests. It notes that the committee's recommendation to approve a proposed marketing name does not constitute registration of a trademark with the Saudi Authority for Intellectual Property, nor does registration of the proposed marketing name as a trademark with the Saudi Authority for Intellectual Property obligate the committee to approve it.

The regulations emphasize that changing the marketing name does not affect any rights or obligations arising from or related to the previous name. It prohibits the use of any marketing name other than the approved marketing name according to these regulations, and any marketing name approved prior to their enforcement, in events, media, and marketing for projects or investment opportunities related to the city or zone.