Ministry of Economy organizes ‘Qitaf’ exhibition to showcase UAE’s accomplishments in IP sector and foster an innovation ecosystem

Minister of Economy reviews groundbreaking projects by entrepreneurs and inventors

The Ministry of Economy hosted the ‘Qitaf’ exhibition at its Dubai headquarters to showcase the UAE's accomplishments in the field of intellectual property (IP) across various sectors and activities, and strengthen partnerships among inventors, innovators, and entrepreneurs. The launch event was attended by H.E. Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri, Minister of Economy, H.E. Abdulla Al Saleh, Undersecretary of the Ministry, H.E. Lieutenant General Mohammed Ahmed Al Marri, Director General of the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs in Dubai, and H.E. Dr. Abdulrahman Al Muaini, Assistant Undersecretary for the Intellectual Property Sector at the Ministry of Economy.

H.E. Bin Touq emphasized that the UAE has placed great importance on the IP sector’s development, considering it one of the key drivers of the transition to a knowledge- and innovation-based economy. To that end, the UAE has developed a comprehensive legislative and regulatory ecosystem, offering the necessary tools and opportunities to help inventors, innovators, and entrepreneurs grow their businesses. These efforts have in turn solidified the UAE’s position as a global hub for talent and creative businesses.

H.E. said: "The Qitaf exhibition serves as a key platform to highlight the remarkable efforts and achievements in the UAE’s IP sector over recent years. Notable among these is the launch of a new IP ecosystem that encompasses 31 initiatives supporting innovation and creativity. In addition, the UAE introduced the ‘Patent Incubator’ project to streamline the patent registration process across its seven emirates. The country also launched a new roadmap for ‘Green IP’ to foster innovation in circular economy solutions, environmental sustainability, and the emerging economic landscape.”

His Excellency highlighted the remarkable outcomes of these initiatives in 2024, with the number of trademark registrations showing a significant 89 per cent surge. Intellectual works demonstrated robust growth at 26.5 per cent while patent grants experienced a notable 17.5 per cent growth, indicating sustained technological advancement and innovation. The number of patent applications in the country has also doubled, contributing to an overall growth of six per cent.

The Ministry of Economy has enhanced its procedures and regulatory frameworks, significantly reducing the initial patent examination waiting period from 44 months in early 2023 to 20 months in 2024.

In his speech at the exhibition, H.E. Bin Touq said: "In collaboration with our partners across the public and private sectors, the Ministry of Economy will continue rolling out initiatives and projects that enhance the competitiveness of the IP sector. This aligns with our strategic objectives and reinforces the UAE’s vision of becoming a leading global hub for the new economy by the next decade, in line with the objectives of ‘We the UAE 2031’ vision."

During his tour of the exhibition, the Minister of Economy reviewed several groundbreaking projects led by Emirati inventors and entrepreneurs. The exhibition featured two sessions: the first addressing technology's vital role in IP protection amid global digital transformation and digital innovation's role in promoting IP rights awareness. The second session, titled ‘Group Economies and Intellectual Property,’ focused on strengthening international cooperation in IP activities and exchanging best practices for sustainable economic development.

On the sidelines of the exhibition, the Ministry felicitated various public and private entities in the UAE’s IP sector for their continued efforts in supporting its growth. Honorees included the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs in Dubai (GDRFA-Dubai), Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development (ADDED), Emirates Inventors Association (EIA), the Brand Owners Protection Group, Emirates Intellectual Property Association (EIPA), the International Intellectual Property Association (IIPA), along with several Emirati inventors.