Qatar and Republic of Korea Sign Agreement to Enhance Qatar's IP and Innovation Ecosystem
On December 14, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry of Qatar (MOCI) signed an agreement with the Ministry of Intellectual Property of the Republic of Korea and the Korea Intellectual Property Strategy Agency (KISTA), to further enhance Qatar's IP and innovation ecosystem, in line with the Qatar National Vision 2030 and the Third National Development Strategy (QNA).
EPO Statistics Show Increase in Unitary Patents
Since the launch of the Unitary Patent system on June 1, 2023, over 75 000 European patents with unitary effect have been registered by the EPO. Unitary Patents provide patent protection in 18 EU Member States with a single request, a single translation and a single renewal fee. Based on the average number of granted European patents per year, about one out of four European patents have been transformed in Unitary Patents. Almost one third of all requests have come from SMEs and 8% came from universities.
UAE Rolls Out Online Platform For Listing and Trading Trademarks
On November 26, the UAE Ministry of Economy and Tourism announced the launch of the new trademark platform "TM Market Place". The Platform is a result of collaboration between the Ministry of Economy and Tourism and the UAE Government Leaders Program, and it is the first of its kind in the Gulf.
Saudi Authority For IP Becomes a DAS Accessing Office
Effective September 1, 2025, the Saudi Authority for Intellectual Property (SAIP) joined the World Intellectual Property Organization's (WIPO) Digital Access Service (DAS) as an Accessing Office.
Qatar Joins the Nice Agreement: A Major Milestone for Trade Mark Protection
On November 11, 2025, Qatar deposited its instrument of accession to the Nice Agreement Concerning the International Classification of Goods and Services for the Purposes of the Registration of Marks.
WIPO Announces Reduced Trademark Fees for Qatar
In accordance with Rule 35(2)(d) of the Regulations under the Madrid Protocol, the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) has announced revised individual fees for trademark applications in Qatar that will take effect on November 9, 2025.
Update on Industrial Design Registration in Qatar
The Qatar Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MOCI) has officially announced that industrial design applications can be submitted to the IP Office starting October 26, 2025. The establishment of a formal filing procedure, will replace the current practice of publishing cautionary notices in leading local newspapers.
EGIPA Announces Increase in Official Fees
Effective October 14, 2025, The Egyptian Intellectual Property Authority (EGIPA) issued three main decisions, revising the official fees for several IP services. The Decisions No. 138, No. 140, and No. 141 concern patents & utility models, plant varieties, and copyrights, respectively.
UAE Revises Trademark Service Fee Structure
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) Cabinet has issued Resolution No. (102) of 2025 amending certain provisions of Cabinet Resolution No. (20) of 2020 concerning the service fees of the Ministry of Economy and Tourism. The proposed changes to trademark fees are outlined below:
Qatar Trademark Office Update
The Qatar Trademark Office has announced that as of September 15, 2025, all trademark applications must comply with the eleventh edition of the Nice Classification when identifying goods and services. This directive was issued under the GCC Law No. 7 of 2014 on Trademark Protection. The use of category titles or blanket claims covering all goods and services within the class will not be accepted.
