UAE officially joins Locarno Agreement Establishing an International Classification for Industrial Designs during its participation in the 68th Series of Meetings of WIPO Assemblies
UAE officially joins Locarno Agreement Establishing an International Classification for Industrial Designs during its participation in the 68th Series of Meetings of WIPO Assemblies
UAE officially joins Locarno Agreement Establishing an International Classification for Industrial Designs during its participation in the 68th Series of Meetings of WIPO Assemblies
The accession marks a key milestone in strengthening international cooperation in the protection of industrial designs and developing the national IP ecosystem
H.E. Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri, Minister of Economy and Tourism, headed the UAE delegation participating in the 68th series of meetings of the Assemblies of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) member states, held at the Organization’s headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, from 7 to 15 July. The delegation included H.E. Dr. Abdulrahman Hassan Al Muaini, Assistant Undersecretary for the Intellectual Property (IP) sector at the Ministry.
During its participation in the session, the UAE officially joined the Locarno Agreement Establishing an International Classification for Industrial Designs. The Agreement is an international treaty concluded in Locarno, Switzerland, on 8 October 1968 and administered by WIPO. It aims to create a unified international classification system for industrial designs.
H.E. Bin Touq said: “The UAE’s accession to the Locarno Agreement is a key milestone in strengthening the country’s industrial design protection system and developing the national intellectual property ecosystem in line with the highest international standards. The move also reflects the UAE’s vision to reinforce international cooperation in intellectual property, particularly the protection of industrial designs, streamlining their registration, search, and comparison procedures among member states, as well as unifying their classification procedures across intellectual property offices.”
In his remarks addressing the WIPO meeting, H.E. underscored the UAE’s belief in the new economy as a key pillar for achieving sustainable economic development. The country has prioritised the creation of a leading institutional framework that supports creators and inventors by protecting IP rights and enabling individual and institutional innovation. These efforts align with the objectives of the ‘We the UAE 2031’ vision to strengthen the UAE’s position as a global hub for a knowledge-based and innovation-driven economy.
Advanced IP laws
H.E. added: “The UAE has developed advanced and proactive intellectual property laws, including the Law on the Regulation and Protection of Industrial Property Rights, law on Trademarks, and Law on Copyright and Neighbouring Rights. These laws have contributed to building an integrated legislative framework for protecting IP rights and supporting emerging entrepreneurial projects and cultural and creative industries, thereby diversifying the national economy, enhancing its competitiveness, and sustaining its growth.”
60 initiatives to strengthen the innovation and creativity environment in the UAE
H.E. continued: “The Ministry of Economy and Tourism has launched more than 60 impactful initiatives to strengthen the IP, innovation, and creativity environment over the last three years, at a rate exceeding 20 initiatives annually. These include the launch of ‘TM Market Place,’ the first innovative digital platform of its kind in the UAE and the region for buying and trading trademarks.”
The Minister of Economy and Tourism further highlighted that these efforts have strengthened the UAE’s position as a regional and global hub for innovation and competitiveness. The country has maintained its first place among the Arab world for the sixth consecutive year in the Global Innovation Index (GII), while advancing to 30th place globally.
H.E. emphasised the importance of keeping pace with the rapid developments in artificial intelligence (AI) and emerging technologies as part of balanced frameworks that accelerate innovation and protect rights. The UAE ranked first globally in AI adoption rates during the first quarter of 2026.
UAE’s IP sector continues to grow
The UAE’s IP sector continues to record increasing growth, achieving a series of positive outcomes that reflect the success of the economic legislation, initiatives, and projects launched over the recent years to develop and advance this vital sector. The Ministry of Economy and Tourism registered 17,217 national and international trademarks during the first half of 2026, while the total number reached nearly 39,113 in 2025.
35.4 per cent growth in intellectual works registered in the UAE
Registered intellectual works in the UAE recorded a 35.4 per cent growth during the first half of 2026 compared to the same period in 2025. The total number of intellectual works registered in 2025 reached nearly 2,082.
12 per cent increase in patent applications
With regard to patents, the Ministry recorded an increase of nearly 12 per cent in the number of applications submitted during the first half of 2026. Meanwhile, the total number of patent applications last year reached 4,353. Utility certificate applications also recorded a growth of 7.14 per cent during the first half of this year compared to the same period in 2025.
Protecting broadcasting rights and combating digital piracy
The UAE has continued its efforts to protect intellectual works, particularly those related to broadcasting rights and combating digital piracy. The total number of violating websites blocked by the Ministry’s InstaBlock Centre reached 31,852 in 2026, up 26 per cent in the number of websites blocked during the first half of this year compared to the same period in 2025.
Additionally, the Ministry of Economy and Tourism organised a pavilion at the exhibition accompanying the WIPO meetings. The pavilion featured the participation of several national intellectual property entities, particularly the Emirates Intellectual Property Association, the Emirates Reprographic Rights Management Association, the Emirates Publishers Association, the Emirates Science Club, the Brand Owners' Protection Group, and the Sharjah Institute for Heritage.
The Ministry showcased key services and initiatives related to IP in the UAE, along with a collection of Emirati handicrafts and heritage performances. It also highlighted a range of Emirati innovations and inventions. The pavilion represented a platform to enhance cultural exchange with WIPO member states, support the UAE’s cultural diplomacy, and highlight the country as a leading country in creativity and the protection of cultural heritage. It also contributed to strengthening the UAE’s cultural identity internationally and reinforcing its leadership in developing an integrated IP ecosystem.
