UAE registers over 17,000 trademarks in H1 2026 as it joins Locarno Convention

The UAE has officially joined the Locarno Agreement, which establishes an international classification for industrial designs. This move coincides with over 17,000 trademark registrations in the first half of 2026. For procurement and engineering teams, this transition provides greater legal certainty and standardized classification for industrial equipment components and machinery aesthetics.

Joining the Locarno Convention simplifies the cross-border procurement of industrial designs and protects OEM intellectual property more effectively within the UAE. Buyers can now more easily verify the authenticity and classification of design-specific equipment, reducing the risk of purchasing counterfeit or non-compliant industrial hardware.