On September 18, CLDP, in cooperation with the Dubai Economic Council and the UAE Brand Protection Group, conducted a broad intellectual property rights (IPR) workshop. The workshop attendees included representatives from the governments of the UAE and Saudi Arabia, judges, academia, private-sector lawyers, Fortune 500 corporations, small and medium enterprises, and civil society. The workshop aimed to raise awareness of the challenges of IPR enforcement and to highlight cooperation strategies between the public and private sectors to encourage a stronger and more effective IPR framework in the UAE. Experts from the local and international private and public sectors also discussed patent processes, economic prosperity related to technology, and IPR standards and legal harmonization across the Gulf Cooperation Council. Next steps were outlined, including cooperation amongst CLDP, USPTO and participants on implementing long-term strategies to achieve mutual IPR goals in the UAE and the region.