diff --git a/Cargo.toml b/Cargo.toml
index 43af617..e8bc6e0 100644
--- a/Cargo.toml
+++ b/Cargo.toml
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ thiserror = "1.0.2"
 udev = { version = "0.6", optional = true }
 wayland-commons = { version = "0.29.0", optional = true }
 wayland-egl = { version = "0.29.0", optional = true }
-wayland-protocols = { version = "0.29.0", features = ["unstable_protocols", "server"], optional = true }
+wayland-protocols = { version = "0.29.0", features = ["unstable_protocols", "staging_protocols", "server"], optional = true }
 wayland-server = { version = "0.29.0", optional = true }
 wayland-sys = { version = "0.29.0", optional = true }
 winit = { version = "0.25.0", optional = true }
diff --git a/src/wayland/mod.rs b/src/wayland/mod.rs
index f14c7a2..d9810ca 100644
--- a/src/wayland/mod.rs
+++ b/src/wayland/mod.rs
@@ -63,6 +63,7 @@ pub mod seat;
 pub mod shell;
 pub mod shm;
 pub mod tablet_manager;
+pub mod xdg_activation;
 pub mod xdg_foreign;
 
 /// A global [`SerialCounter`] for use in your compositor.
diff --git a/src/wayland/xdg_activation/handlers.rs b/src/wayland/xdg_activation/handlers.rs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..70f03b5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/wayland/xdg_activation/handlers.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,147 @@
+use std::{
+    cell::RefCell,
+    rc::Rc,
+    sync::{Arc, Mutex},
+};
+
+use wayland_protocols::staging::xdg_activation::v1::server::{xdg_activation_token_v1, xdg_activation_v1};
+use wayland_server::{
+    protocol::{wl_seat::WlSeat, wl_surface::WlSurface},
+    DispatchData, Filter, Main,
+};
+
+use crate::wayland::Serial;
+
+use super::{XdgActivationEvent, XdgActivationState, XdgActivationToken, XdgActivationTokenData};
+
+type Impl = dyn FnMut(&Mutex<XdgActivationState>, XdgActivationEvent, DispatchData<'_>);
+
+/// New xdg activation global
+pub(super) fn implement_activation_global(
+    global: Main<xdg_activation_v1::XdgActivationV1>,
+    state: Arc<Mutex<XdgActivationState>>,
+    implementation: Rc<RefCell<Impl>>,
+) {
+    global.quick_assign(move |_, req, ddata| match req {
+        xdg_activation_v1::Request::GetActivationToken { id } => {
+            get_activation_token(id, state.clone(), implementation.clone());
+        }
+        xdg_activation_v1::Request::Activate { token, surface } => {
+            activate(
+                token.into(),
+                surface,
+                state.as_ref(),
+                implementation.as_ref(),
+                ddata,
+            );
+        }
+        _ => {}
+    });
+}
+
+/// New xdg activation token
+fn get_activation_token(
+    id: Main<xdg_activation_token_v1::XdgActivationTokenV1>,
+    state: Arc<Mutex<XdgActivationState>>,
+    implementation: Rc<RefCell<Impl>>,
+) {
+    id.quick_assign({
+        let state = state.clone();
+
+        let mut token_serial: Option<(Serial, WlSeat)> = None;
+        let mut token_app_id: Option<String> = None;
+        let mut token_surface: Option<WlSurface> = None;
+        let mut token_constructed = false;
+
+        move |id, req, _| {
+            if !token_constructed {
+                match req {
+                    xdg_activation_token_v1::Request::SetSerial { serial, seat } => {
+                        token_serial = Some((serial.into(), seat));
+                    }
+                    xdg_activation_token_v1::Request::SetAppId { app_id } => {
+                        token_app_id = Some(app_id);
+                    }
+                    xdg_activation_token_v1::Request::SetSurface { surface } => {
+                        token_surface = Some(surface);
+                    }
+                    xdg_activation_token_v1::Request::Commit => {
+                        let (token, token_data) = XdgActivationTokenData::new(
+                            token_serial.take(),
+                            token_app_id.take(),
+                            token_surface.take(),
+                        );
+
+                        state
+                            .lock()
+                            .unwrap()
+                            .pending_tokens
+                            .insert(token.clone(), token_data);
+                        id.as_ref().user_data().set_threadsafe(|| token.clone());
+
+                        id.done(token.to_string());
+
+                        token_constructed = true;
+                    }
+                    _ => {}
+                };
+            } else {
+                id.as_ref().post_error(
+                    xdg_activation_token_v1::Error::AlreadyUsed as u32,
+                    "The activation token has already been constructed".into(),
+                )
+            }
+        }
+    });
+
+    id.assign_destructor(Filter::new(
+        move |token: xdg_activation_token_v1::XdgActivationTokenV1, _, ddata| {
+            if let Some(token) = token.as_ref().user_data().get::<XdgActivationToken>() {
+                state.lock().unwrap().pending_tokens.remove(token);
+
+                if let Some((token_data, surface)) = state.lock().unwrap().activation_requests.remove(token) {
+                    let mut cb = implementation.borrow_mut();
+                    cb(
+                        &state,
+                        XdgActivationEvent::DestroyActivationRequest {
+                            token: token.clone(),
+                            token_data,
+                            surface,
+                        },
+                        ddata,
+                    );
+                }
+            }
+        },
+    ));
+}
+
+/// Xdg activation request
+fn activate(
+    token: XdgActivationToken,
+    surface: WlSurface,
+    state: &Mutex<XdgActivationState>,
+    implementation: &RefCell<Impl>,
+    ddata: DispatchData<'_>,
+) {
+    let mut guard = state.lock().unwrap();
+    if let Some(token_data) = guard.pending_tokens.remove(&token) {
+        guard
+            .activation_requests
+            .insert(token.clone(), (token_data.clone(), surface.clone()));
+
+        // The user may want to use state, so we need to unlock it
+        drop(guard);
+
+        let mut cb = implementation.borrow_mut();
+        cb(
+            state,
+            XdgActivationEvent::RequestActivation {
+                token: token.clone(),
+                token_data,
+                surface,
+            },
+            ddata,
+        );
+    }
+}
diff --git a/src/wayland/xdg_activation/mod.rs b/src/wayland/xdg_activation/mod.rs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..121e116
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/wayland/xdg_activation/mod.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,257 @@
+//! Utilities for handling activation requests with the `xdg_activation` protocol
+//!
+//!
+//! ### Example
+//! ```no_run
+//! # extern crate wayland_server;
+//! #
+//! use smithay::wayland::xdg_activation::{init_xdg_activation_global, XdgActivationEvent};
+//!
+//! # let mut display = wayland_server::Display::new();
+//! let (state, _) = init_xdg_activation_global(
+//!     &mut display,
+//!     // your implementation
+//!     |state, req, dispatch_data| {
+//!         match req{
+//!             XdgActivationEvent::RequestActivation { token, token_data, surface } => {
+//!                 if token_data.timestamp.elapsed().as_secs() < 10 {
+//!                     // Request surface activation
+//!                 } else{
+//!                     // Discard the request
+//!                     state.lock().unwrap().remove_request(&token);
+//!                 }
+//!             },
+//!             XdgActivationEvent::DestroyActivationRequest {..} => {
+//!                 // The request is canceled
+//!             },
+//!         }
+//!     },
+//!     None  // put a logger if you want
+//! );
+//! ```
+
+use std::{
+    cell::RefCell,
+    collections::HashMap,
+    ops,
+    rc::Rc,
+    sync::{Arc, Mutex},
+    time::Instant,
+};
+
+use wayland_protocols::staging::xdg_activation::v1::server::xdg_activation_v1;
+use wayland_server::{
+    protocol::{wl_seat::WlSeat, wl_surface::WlSurface},
+    DispatchData, Display, Filter, Global, Main, UserDataMap,
+};
+
+use rand::distributions::{Alphanumeric, DistString};
+
+use crate::wayland::Serial;
+
+mod handlers;
+
+/// Contains the unique string token of activation request
+#[derive(Debug, Clone, Hash, PartialEq, Eq)]
+pub struct XdgActivationToken(String);
+
+impl XdgActivationToken {
+    fn new() -> Self {
+        Self(Alphanumeric.sample_string(&mut rand::thread_rng(), 32))
+    }
+
+    /// Extracts a string slice containing the entire token.
+    pub fn as_str(&self) -> &str {
+        &self.0
+    }
+}
+
+impl ops::Deref for XdgActivationToken {
+    type Target = str;
+    #[inline]
+    fn deref(&self) -> &str {
+        &self.0
+    }
+}
+
+impl From<String> for XdgActivationToken {
+    fn from(s: String) -> Self {
+        Self(s)
+    }
+}
+
+impl From<XdgActivationToken> for String {
+    fn from(s: XdgActivationToken) -> Self {
+        s.0
+    }
+}
+
+/// Activation data asosiated with the [`XdgActivationToken`]
+
+#[derive(Debug, Clone)]
+pub struct XdgActivationTokenData {
+    /// Provides information about the seat and serial event that requested the token.
+    ///
+    /// The serial can come from an input or focus event.
+    /// For instance, if a click triggers the launch of a third-party client,
+    /// this field should contain serial and seat from the wl_pointer.button event.
+    ///
+    /// Some compositors might refuse to activate toplevels
+    /// when the token doesn't have a valid and recent enough event serial.
+    pub serial: Option<(Serial, WlSeat)>,
+    /// The requesting client can specify an app_id to associate the token being created with it.
+    pub app_id: Option<String>,
+    /// The surface requesting the activation.
+    ///
+    /// Note, this is different from the surface that will be activated.
+    pub surface: Option<WlSurface>,
+    /// Timestamp of the token
+    ///
+    /// You can use this do ignore tokens based on time.
+    /// For example you coould ignore all tokens older that 5s.
+    pub timestamp: Instant,
+}
+
+impl XdgActivationTokenData {
+    fn new(
+        serial: Option<(Serial, WlSeat)>,
+        app_id: Option<String>,
+        surface: Option<WlSurface>,
+    ) -> (XdgActivationToken, XdgActivationTokenData) {
+        (
+            XdgActivationToken::new(),
+            XdgActivationTokenData {
+                serial,
+                app_id,
+                surface,
+                timestamp: Instant::now(),
+            },
+        )
+    }
+}
+
+/// Tracks the list of pending and current activation requests
+#[derive(Debug)]
+pub struct XdgActivationState {
+    log: ::slog::Logger,
+    user_data: UserDataMap,
+
+    pending_tokens: HashMap<XdgActivationToken, XdgActivationTokenData>,
+
+    activation_requests: HashMap<XdgActivationToken, (XdgActivationTokenData, WlSurface)>,
+}
+
+impl XdgActivationState {
+    /// Get current activation requests
+    ///
+    /// HashMap contains token data and target surface
+    pub fn requests(&self) -> &HashMap<XdgActivationToken, (XdgActivationTokenData, WlSurface)> {
+        &self.activation_requests
+    }
+
+    /// Remove and return the activation request
+    ///
+    /// If you consider a request to be unwanted you can use this method to
+    /// discard it and don't track it any futher.
+    pub fn remove_request(
+        &mut self,
+        token: &XdgActivationToken,
+    ) -> Option<(XdgActivationTokenData, WlSurface)> {
+        self.activation_requests.remove(token)
+    }
+
+    /// Retain activation requests
+    pub fn retain_reqests<F>(&mut self, mut f: F)
+    where
+        F: FnMut(&XdgActivationToken, &(XdgActivationTokenData, WlSurface)) -> bool,
+    {
+        self.activation_requests.retain(|k, v| f(k, v))
+    }
+
+    /// Retain pending tokens
+    ///
+    /// You may want to remove super old tokens
+    /// that were never turned into activation request for some reason
+    pub fn retain_pending_tokens<F>(&mut self, mut f: F)
+    where
+        F: FnMut(&XdgActivationToken, &XdgActivationTokenData) -> bool,
+    {
+        self.pending_tokens.retain(|k, v| f(k, v))
+    }
+
+    /// Access the `UserDataMap` associated with this `XdgActivationState `
+    pub fn user_data(&self) -> &UserDataMap {
+        &self.user_data
+    }
+}
+
+/// Creates new `xdg-activation` global.
+pub fn init_xdg_activation_global<L, Impl>(
+    display: &mut Display,
+    implementation: Impl,
+    logger: L,
+) -> (
+    Arc<Mutex<XdgActivationState>>,
+    Global<xdg_activation_v1::XdgActivationV1>,
+)
+where
+    L: Into<Option<::slog::Logger>>,
+    Impl: FnMut(&Mutex<XdgActivationState>, XdgActivationEvent, DispatchData<'_>) + 'static,
+{
+    let log = crate::slog_or_fallback(logger);
+
+    let implementation = Rc::new(RefCell::new(implementation));
+
+    let activation_state = Arc::new(Mutex::new(XdgActivationState {
+        log: log.new(slog::o!("smithay_module" => "xdg_activation_handler")),
+        user_data: UserDataMap::new(),
+        pending_tokens: HashMap::new(),
+        activation_requests: HashMap::new(),
+    }));
+
+    let state = activation_state.clone();
+    let global = display.create_global(
+        1,
+        Filter::new(
+            move |(global, _version): (Main<xdg_activation_v1::XdgActivationV1>, _), _, _| {
+                handlers::implement_activation_global(global, state.clone(), implementation.clone());
+            },
+        ),
+    );
+
+    (activation_state, global)
+}
+
+/// Xdg activation related events
+#[derive(Debug)]
+pub enum XdgActivationEvent {
+    /// Requests surface activation.
+    ///
+    /// The compositor may know who requested this by checking the token data
+    /// and might decide not to follow through with the activation if it's considered unwanted.
+    ///
+    /// If you consider a request to be unwanted you can use [`XdgActivationState::remove_request`]
+    /// to discard it and don't track it any futher.
+    RequestActivation {
+        /// Token of the request
+        token: XdgActivationToken,
+        /// Data asosiated with the token
+        token_data: XdgActivationTokenData,
+        /// Target surface
+        surface: WlSurface,
+    },
+    /// The activation token just got destroyed
+    ///
+    /// In response to that activation request should be canceled.
+    ///
+    /// For example if your compostior blinks a window when it requests activation,
+    /// after this request the animation should stop.
+    DestroyActivationRequest {
+        /// Token of the request that just died
+        token: XdgActivationToken,
+        /// Data asosiated with the token
+        token_data: XdgActivationTokenData,
+        /// Target surface
+        surface: WlSurface,
+    },
+}