UAE Bolsters Intellectual Property Landscape with Locarno Agreement Accession and Strong H1 Growth
Dubai, UAE – The United Arab Emirates has taken a significant step in strengthening its intellectual property (IP) framework by officially acceding to the Locarno Agreement Concerning the International Classification of Industrial Designs. This development coincides with robust growth in trademark registrations, patent applications, and registered intellectual works during the first half of 2026, according to official figures.
The accession to the Locarno Agreement was formally confirmed during the UAE delegation’s participation in the 68th session of the Assemblies of Member States of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), held in Geneva, Switzerland, from July 7 to 15. The Locarno Agreement, established in 1968 and administered by WIPO, provides a unified international classification system for industrial designs.
Significant Milestone for Industrial Design Protection
The Minister of Economy and Tourism underscored the strategic importance of this accession, describing it as a pivotal moment for the nation’s industrial design protection system. This move is anticipated to elevate the national intellectual property framework to align with the highest global benchmarks. The Minister emphasized that joining the agreement reflects the UAE’s commitment to fostering international collaboration in intellectual property, particularly in safeguarding industrial designs, streamlining their registration, and standardizing classification procedures across member states’ IP offices.
Robust Growth in IP Registrations
Official data reveals a dynamic IP landscape in the UAE:
- Trademarks: A total of 17,217 national and international trademarks were registered in the first half of 2026. This figure represents a strong performance, comparing to 39,113 registrations recorded for the entire year of 2025.
- Intellectual Works: Registered intellectual works saw a substantial increase of 35.4 percent in the first half of 2026 when compared to the corresponding period last year. Total registrations for intellectual works reached approximately 2,082 in 2025.
- Patents and Utility Certificates: Patent applications submitted to the relevant Ministry witnessed an estimated 12 percent growth in the first half of 2026 compared to the same period in 2025, which saw 4,353 total applications. Applications for utility certificates also rose by 7.14 percent over the identical period.
Strategic Initiatives and Global Recognition
Over the past three years, the Ministry of Economy and Tourism has launched more than 60 initiatives aimed at cultivating a vibrant environment for intellectual property, innovation, and creativity. Notable among these is the Trademarks Market, described as the region’s first digital platform dedicated to the sale and trading of trademarks.
These concerted efforts have contributed to the UAE maintaining its leading position in the Arab world for the sixth consecutive year in the Global Innovation Index, achieving the 30th rank globally. The Ministry also highlighted its ongoing endeavors to protect broadcasting rights and actively combat digital piracy. The UAE’s leadership in artificial intelligence adoption rates during the first quarter of 2026 was also noted as a factor in the nation’s progressive innovation agenda.