Middle East IP Updates 2026: Major Reforms
Across Saudi Arabia, UAE, Iraq & Palestine
Intellectual property administrative frameworks across the region continue to align rapidly with
international treaty standards alongside local administrative measures. These essential Middle East IP
updates 2026 feature landmark treaty instruments deposited with the World Intellectual Property
Organization (WIPO) by Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, alongside procedural fee schedules
and administrative circulars issued in Iraq and Palestine.
Below is an operational breakdown of these developments for brand owners, portfolio managers, and legal practitioners tracking Middle East IP updates 2026.
1. Saudi Arabia Accedes to the Madrid System for International
Trademarks
According to WIPO Information Notice No. 35/2026, the Government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
deposited its instrument of accession to the Madrid Protocol on July 8, 2026. The treaty will formally
enter into force for the Kingdom on October 8, 2026, making Saudi Arabia the 117th Contracting Party
to the Madrid Protocol and expanding the Madrid System's total coverage to 133 countries.
Administered nationally by the Saudi Authority for Intellectual Property (SAIP), this accession allows
international brand owners to designate Saudi Arabia in a single international application administered by
WIPO. Saudi Arabia becomes the 5th Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) state to join the Madrid System, joining Bahrain, Oman, Qatar, and the UAE, leaving Kuwait as the remaining GCC state outside the framework.
Official Declarations & Operational Provisions
● Extended Examination Timeline (Art. 5(2)(b)-(c)): Saudi Arabia has declared an 18-month
time limit for notifying provisional refusals of protection, replacing the standard 12-month
default. Provisional refusals resulting from opposition proceedings may also be notified after the
18-month window expires.
● Individual Fee Structure (Art. 8(7)(a)): Rights holders designating Saudi Arabia in
international applications, subsequent designations, or renewals will be subject to individual fees
rather than standard supplementary revenue sharing. Official fee amounts will be specified in a
dedicated WIPO Information Notice.
● No Division or Merger (Rules 27bis(6) & 27ter(2)(b)): SAIP notified WIPO that it will not
process requests for the division or merger of international registrations, as these mechanisms are not recognized under Saudi national trademark law.
● Power of Attorney (PoA) Advantage: Filing via the Madrid System bypasses national POA
legalization requirements upon submission. A local legalized POA is generally only triggered if
SAIP issues a provisional refusal or if a third party files an opposition.
2. Iraq Establishes Official Reclassification Fees under the Nice
System .Effective July 20, 2026, the Iraqi Trademarks Office introduced a mandatory official fee structure for trademark reclassifications processed under the 11th Edition of the Nice Classification (NCL).
Calculation Rules & Scope
● Registered Trademarks: For existing registered marks transitioning from Iraq's legacy sub-class
system, the official reclassification fee balance equals the cost difference between the initial final
registration fee paid and the current 11th Edition fee schedule, calculated per item of goods or
services.
● Pending Applications: Applications currently pending certificate issuance that undergo
reclassification before registration will be subject to standard certificate issuance fees rather than a differential fee balance.
3. United Arab Emirates Accedes to the Locarno Agreement on
Industrial Designs .As formally announced in WIPO Treaty Notification Deposit No. 78, the United Arab Emirates deposited its instrument of accession to the Locarno Agreement Establishing an International Classification for Industrial Designs on July 6, 2026. The treaty officially enters into force in the UAE on October 6, 2026.
Administered globally by WIPO, the Locarno Classification provides a standardized international system for cataloging industrial design assets into harmonized classes and subclasses. Adopting this classification strengthens the UAE's alignment with international IP standards, facilitating streamlined cross-border design searches, portfolio management, and enforcement across member states.
4. Palestine: Temporary Surcharge Waiver for Trademark
Renewals Following the gradual resumption of operations at the Trademarks Office in Palestine, the Ministry of National Economy issued an administrative circular providing temporary penalty relief for lapsed trademark registrations.
Regulatory Relief Terms & Deadline Warning
● Late Fee Surcharge Waiver (Through August 11, 2026): Trademarks whose renewal fell due
during the office suspension window (dating from October 7, 2023) can be renewed at standard
official rates without late payment surcharges through August 11, 2026.
URGENT: Docketing teams and portfolio managers should prioritize clearing overdue
Palestinian renewal backlogs immediately before this penalty-free window closes on August 11,
2026.
● Reinstatement of Surcharges (From August 12, 2026): Standard late payment surcharges will
resume in full starting August 12, 2026.
Statutory Rules on Cancellation
Under Palestinian trademark law, rights holders retain a post-expiration grace period. Beyond this period, a mark remains renewable unless the Registrar officially issues a final cancellation order, which
statutorily requires a formal written notice sent to the owner or agent followed by an unfulfilled 30-day response window.