Legal Framework of Geographical Indications in Saudi Arabia and UAE

Abstract

Current study explores the specific legal architectures and institutional arrangements of Geographical Indications (GIs) in Saudi Arabia and UAE. The comparative analysis reveals two fundamentally different highly effective models for adapting the global legal instrument of GIs. Both countries share the fundamental idea that the creation of economic value in the 21st century stems not only from oil wells or high-tech laboratories but also from the collective memory and craftsmanship of their respective territories. By transforming this knowledge into protected and exploitable economic assets through GI protection, they are entering innovative domain. Both countries can face challenge of maintaining delicate balance between commercialization and preservation.