The United Arab Emirates has officially acceded to the Locarno Agreement Establishing an International Classification for Industrial Designs, marking another significant milestone in the country’s ongoing efforts to strengthen its intellectual property (IP) framework and align with international best practices.
Announced during the 68th Assemblies of the Member States of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) in Geneva, the accession reflects the UAE’s commitment to supporting innovation, encouraging investment, and enhancing protection for creators, designers, and businesses.
For manufacturers, start-ups, product designers, brand owners, and investors, this development makes industrial design registration in the UAE more consistent with international standards and strengthens the country’s position as a regional hub for innovation and intellectual property protection.
UAE Joins the Locarno Agreement: Key Takeaways
- The UAE has officially acceded to the Locarno Agreement, administered by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO).
- Future industrial design applications will be classified using the internationally recognised Locarno Classification.
- Existing registered industrial designs remain valid and are unaffected.
- The new classification system aligns UAE design filings with those used in many major jurisdictions worldwide.
- Businesses filing industrial designs in multiple countries will benefit from greater consistency in classification and portfolio management.
The accession complements the UAE’s broader alignment with international IP treaties, including the Paris Convention, Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT), Madrid Protocol, Berne Convention, and Nice Agreement.
What Is the Locarno Agreement?
The Locarno Agreement Establishing an International Classification for Industrial Designs was concluded in Locarno, Switzerland, on 8 October 1968 and is administered by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO).
Its purpose is straightforward: it establishes the Locarno Classification, a unified international system for classifying industrial designs according to the products to which they relate.
The classification currently comprises 32 classes and multiple subclasses, covering virtually every category of manufactured products, from furniture and consumer electronics to fashion accessories, packaging, medical devices, vehicles, and household goods.
Today, the Locarno Classification is used by intellectual property offices across numerous jurisdictions, providing applicants, examiners, legal practitioners, and businesses with a common framework for organising industrial design applications.
For example, a smartphone casing, perfume bottle, chair, or cosmetic container registered in the UAE will now be classified using the same internationally recognised classification system applied in many other countries.
Locarno Agreement vs Hague System: Understanding the Difference
The Locarno Agreement is often confused with the Hague System for the International Registration of Industrial Designs, but they serve different purposes.
The Locarno Agreement establishes a common classification system for industrial designs. It does not create an international filing mechanism or grant protection across multiple countries.
The Hague System, by contrast, enables eligible applicants to seek industrial design protection in multiple participating jurisdictions through a single international application administered by WIPO.
In simple terms:
Locarno = Classification
Hague = International Filing
The two systems are complementary and together support more efficient international design protection strategies.
Why Has the UAE Joined the Locarno Agreement?
The UAE’s accession forms part of its long-term strategy to build one of the world’s most innovation-friendly intellectual property ecosystems.
The accession to the Locarno Agreement adds another important pillar to the UAE’s expanding intellectual property framework by introducing an internationally recognised classification system specifically for industrial designs.
What Is an Industrial Design?
An industrial design protects the visual appearance of a product rather than how it functions.
Under Federal Decree-Law No. 11 of 2021 on the Regulation and Protection of Industrial Property Rights, an industrial design generally refers to the ornamental or aesthetic appearance of a product, whether expressed in two-dimensional or three-dimensional form.
Examples include:
- perfume bottles
- cosmetic packaging
- luxury watch designs
- furniture
- lighting fixtures
- mobile phone casings
- household appliances
- jewellery
- footwear
- medical devices
- consumer electronics
- automotive components
Unlike patents, which protect technical inventions, industrial design registration protects the product’s appearance.
Industrial Design Registration in the UAE
Industrial design registration in the UAE is governed by:
- Federal Decree-Law No. 11 of 2021 on the Regulation and Protection of Industrial Property Rights
- Cabinet Resolution No. 6 of 2022, which implements the executive regulations.
Subject to compliance with statutory requirements, registered industrial designs enjoy protection for 20 years from the filing date.
Industrial design rights are territorial, meaning protection obtained in the UAE applies within the UAE unless corresponding protection is secured in other jurisdictions.
How the Locarno Agreement Benefits Businesses
The adoption of the Locarno Classification offers several practical advantages.
1. Internationally Standardised Classification
Applicants now use the same internationally recognised classification system adopted by many IP offices worldwide.
This simplifies portfolio management and creates greater consistency between UAE filings and overseas applications.
2. Easier International Filing Strategies
Businesses seeking protection across multiple jurisdictions will benefit from using consistent classification references throughout their design portfolios.
Although separate applications may still be required in many countries, consistent classification reduces administrative complexity.
3. Improved Examination Consistency
A common classification framework helps improve consistency during examination and facilitates more efficient searches for prior registered designs.
4. Better Due Diligence
Investors, licensors, distributors, and commercial partners can more easily review and compare design portfolios using internationally recognised classification standards.
5. Stronger Integration with International IP Systems
Although the Locarno Agreement does not itself provide international protection, it complements other international IP treaties and strengthens the UAE’s integration into the global intellectual property system.
Why Businesses Should Review Their IP Portfolio
The UAE’s accession provides an excellent opportunity for businesses to review their existing intellectual property strategy.
Businesses should consider reviewing their portfolio if they:
- manufacture consumer products
- develop innovative packaging
- create distinctive product shapes
- export internationally
- license product designs
- launch new consumer brands
- operate in the fashion, furniture, cosmetics, electronics, automotive, or healthcare sectors
Ensuring industrial designs are correctly classified and appropriately protected can significantly increase the commercial value of intellectual property assets.
Industrial Designs, Trademarks and Patents: Understanding the Difference
Many successful products are protected by multiple forms of intellectual property.
Consider a premium perfume bottle. Different IP rights may protect different aspects of the same product:
- Industrial Design: Shape and ornamental appearance of the bottle
- Trademark: Brand name and logo
- Patent: Innovative dispensing mechanism or technical invention
- Copyright: Product photographs, advertising artwork and packaging graphics
Combining several forms of IP protection often provides significantly stronger commercial protection than relying on a single right alone.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does joining the Locarno Agreement affect existing UAE industrial design registrations?
No. Existing registered industrial designs remain valid. The Locarno Classification primarily affects how industrial design applications are classified going forward.
Is industrial design registration mandatory in the UAE?
Industrial design rights are not automatic. Unlike copyright, industrial designs generally require formal registration to obtain statutory protection.
Does joining the Locarno Agreement automatically protect my design internationally?
No. The Locarno Agreement standardises classification only. International protection must still be sought through separate national, regional, or international filing systems where available.
Can foreign companies register industrial designs in the UAE?
Yes. Foreign applicants may seek industrial design protection in the UAE in accordance with UAE law and applicable international agreements.
How is an industrial design different from a trademark?
An industrial design protects the visual appearance of a product. A trademark protects signs that distinguish the commercial source of goods or services, such as names, logos, slogans, or, in certain circumstances, distinctive product shapes.
Depending on the circumstances, a single product may benefit from both industrial design and trademark protection.
Protect Your Industrial Designs in the UAE
The UAE’s accession to the Locarno Agreement represents another important step in strengthening the country’s intellectual property ecosystem and aligning its industrial design framework with internationally recognised standards.
For businesses developing innovative products, distinctive packaging, or unique product designs, this is an ideal time to review your intellectual property portfolio and ensure your valuable creative assets receive the most appropriate legal protection.
Jitendra Intellectual Property UAE advises businesses across the UAE and GCC on industrial design registration, trademark protection, patent filings, copyright registration, IP portfolio management, licensing, and enforcement. Contact our experienced IP specialists to review your intellectual property strategy and ensure your valuable designs are protected under the UAE’s evolving legal framework.
