Saudi Arabia has ratified the Riyadh Design Law Treaty (RDLT) by depositing its instrument of ratification with WIPO on 8 July 2026, following its initial signing on 22 November 2024.

Adopted in Riyadh in 2024, the Treaty aims to simplify and harmonise administrative procedures for the protection of industrial designs, making the registration and management of industrial designs more efficient, predictable, and accessible.

While the Treaty does not establish a unitary international industrial design right, each Contracting Party continues to protect industrial designs under its own national system while applying the harmonised procedural standards established by the Treaty.

As of 8 July 2026, four eligible parties have formally joined the Treaty: Albania, El Salvador, and Saudi Arabia through ratification, and Georgia through accession. The Treaty will enter into force once 15 eligible parties have ratified or acceded to it. So far, the required threshold has not been reached.

Saudi Arabia’s ratification represents an important step in strengthening the international framework for industrial design protection and reflects the country’s continued commitment to developing its intellectual property system and supporting innovation.