Saturday 18 / July / 2026
Muscat: The Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion (MoCIIP) has highlighted the growing importance of registering and protecting industrial designs, saying the practice plays a key role in boosting the national economy, encouraging innovation, supporting creative industries, and creating new employment and export opportunities.
The ministry, represented by the National Intellectual Property Office, said demand for industrial design registration is rising among individuals and companies across a wide range of sectors. These include packaging, containers, home furniture, woodwork, lighting products, jewellery, electronic and electrical devices, textiles and clothing, ceramics, handicrafts, pictorial symbols and user interface designs.
Nidaa bint Yaqoub al Tamimiya, Head of the Patents and Industrial Designs Department at the National Intellectual Property Office, , said industrial design registration applications have increased steadily in recent years.
A total of 34 applications were registered by the end of 2025, while 32 applications were filed during the first half of 2026 alone, reflecting growing public awareness of the importance of protecting industrial designs.
Al Tamimiya stressed that industrial designs are as important as patents and trademarks, noting that registration provides legal protection by granting owners exclusive rights to prevent others from copying, registering or selling their designs without permission.
She said legal protection helps combat imitation and unfair competition, safeguards a company's reputation, and makes it easier for rights holders to pursue legal action when necessary. Registering industrial designs also enhances the commercial value of products, strengthens their competitive advantage, and improves their prospects in local and international markets.
She explained that industrial design protection periods vary by country but are generally no less than 10 years. In Oman, industrial designs are protected for 15 years, with registration renewed every five years.
Al Tamimiya added that industrial designs are valuable not only for their aesthetic appeal but also for their economic impact. By increasing the added value of products and strengthening their marketability, registered designs contribute to economic growth and support the development of innovative industries in the Sultanate.
