Saudi Arabia has taken a step towards reforming its intellectual property (IP) framework following the Council of Ministers’ approval of four new laws at a meeting held in Riyadh on October 20, 2026.
According to the Saudi Authority for Intellectual Property (SAIP), the new laws cover:
Patents and Utility Models
New Plant Varieties
Layout Designs of Integrated Circuits
Industrial...
New eligibility requirements for .qa domain names are expected with the launch of Qatar’s new registry system, planned for 22 October 2026.
Currently, .qa domains are available to applicants worldwide without documentary evidence of a connection to Qatar. Under the forthcoming changes, applicants will need to demonstrate a Qatar connection, such as a Qatari entity or a trademark...
The UAE has exempted student inventors and People of Determination from fees across 29 intellectual property services under Cabinet Resolution No. 136 of 2026.
The measure covers patents, industrial designs, and annual protection fees, helping reduce costs and encourage innovation.
The announcement follows a 9% increase in patent applications during the first half of 2026,...
The Egyptian Intellectual Property Authority (EGIPA) has started incorporating virtual hearings into the appeal process for trademarks and industrial designs, reflecting ongoing efforts to modernize intellectual property procedures in Egypt.
The implementation remains at a transitional stage, with online hearings being introduced progressively. As a result, appeal hearings are...
The newly launched facility enables businesses and practitioners to conduct searches by applicant/proprietor name and obtain a comprehensive overview of patent applications filed under a specific applicant’s name.
This development provides greater visibility into patent portfolios in Qatar and may assist businesses and IP practitioners with portfolio management, due diligence,...
The Trademark Office in Gaza has recently resumed accepting trademark renewal applications and has announced an extension of the renewal deadline for trademarks that became due during the period in which the Office was closed.
The extended deadline is up to 16 October 2026 without incurring late renewal fees or penalties.
For more details, please contact us at:...
We would like to inform you that the Trademark Office in Bahrain has issued a circular confirming the adoption of the 13th Edition of the Nice International Classification of Goods and Services, effective 1 October 2026.
For more details or inquiries, please contact us at : [email protected]
Further to our previous update regarding the restoration of the 15-year trademark protection period in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, we would like to provide the following clarification based on the latest guidance received from the Kurdistan Trademark Office.
The Kurdistan Trademark Office has confirmed that the 15-year protection period applies to trademark applications...
To review September 2026 Newsletter: September Newsletter
The Lebanese Trademark Office has announced an extension of four months for certain trademark-related deadlines falling between 1 March 2026 and 31 July 2026.
The extension applies to:
Trademark renewals
Priority
Patent/Annuity payments
Accordingly, the applicable deadlines falling within the above period will benefit from an additional four-month extension.
For further details...









