MUSCAT – The Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion will mark the occasion with a ceremony focusing on Oman’s recent achievements and measures to support innovators, protect creative output, enhance economic and cultural development, and encourage investment in the sector.
Oman celebrates the day as part of its efforts to support creative talent, promote scientific research in intellectual property, and build national expertise through knowledge exchange and capacity building.
His Excellency Engineer Ghalib bin Saeed Al Maamari, Undersecretary of the Ministry for Trade and Industry, said this year’s celebration is held under the slogan “Intellectual Property and Sports: Get Ready, Set, Innovate,” which highlights the role of intellectual property rights in protecting sports innovation and supporting economic and cultural growth.

He stressed that intellectual property is a key partner in the development of modern sports, noting that investing in its protection means investing in creativity, the economy, and human development. He added that sporting innovations, brands, creative content, and performance-enhancing technologies should be protected and supported to strengthen the sector.

His Excellency Al Maamari said the celebration serves as a call to further integrate sports with knowledge, creativity, and innovation, while building a more advanced intellectual property ecosystem.
He also highlighted Oman’s progress in 2025, noting that the Sultanate advanced to 69th place globally in the Global Innovation Index and ranked 55th in innovation inputs, reflecting the success of its national innovation framework.

Among key achievements, he pointed to the adoption of the National Intellectual Property Plan in cooperation with the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), as well as the international registration of Omani frankincense as a geographical indication—making Oman the first Gulf country to achieve this milestone.

Nasra bint Sultan Al Habsi, Director General of Trade at the Ministry, said this year’s theme supports building a national environment that fosters sports innovation through awareness and empowerment. She noted the strong link between intellectual property protection and the sports sector, particularly in technology, design, and investment.

She added that protecting intellectual property rights, including sports products and trademarks, enhances market integrity and attracts quality investment. She also called for greater awareness in schools and sports clubs to instil respect for intellectual property among young people and encourage innovative sports initiatives.

Engineer Khalid bin Hamoud Al Hinai, Director of the National Intellectual Property Office, said Oman recorded significant progress in 2025, with 879 patent applications filed, reflecting growing awareness of the importance of protecting innovation.

He added that the office issued a technical guide for drafting patent applications to support inventors and improve the quality of submissions, stressing the importance of expanding intellectual property awareness within sports institutions.

The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) notes that modern sport has evolved into an integrated system connected to technology, media, and design. It emphasises the importance of legal protection through patents, trademarks, copyright, and industrial designs to safeguard innovation, identity, content, and equipment design in the sports sector.