Patent applications across the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) have surged, with Saudi Arabia, Oman, and the UAE leading the growth.

Saudi Arabia saw resident-filed patent applications more than double from 3,213 in 2016 to 6,510 in 2023, reaching 86.3 applications per million people. Oman recorded the sharpest increase, rising from 12 applications in 2016 to 437 in 2023. The UAE also experienced steady growth, with filings increasing from 622 to 1,005 over the same period, according to World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) data.

This upward trend underscores the region’s commitment to intellectual property, strengthening its position as an emerging hub for innovation and economic diversification.