Ministry of Economy organises session to highlight accomplishments and future initiatives to enhance UAE’s IP system

Various partners and stakeholders in the IP sector attended the session

 The Intellectual Property (IP) Sector at the Ministry of Economy organised a session titled ‘The Future of Intellectual Property Services and Regulatory Framework,’ aimed at strengthening communication with partners and stakeholders while highlighting the sector’s achievements in 2024 and outlining future initiatives. The event was attended by H.E. Dr Abdulrahman Hassan Al Muaini, Assistant Undersecretary for Intellectual Property Sector at the Ministry of Economy, along with representatives from key IP protection entities across the UAE.

During the session, H.E. Dr. Al Muaini emphasised the Ministry of Economy’s proactive efforts to enhance the IP sector in the country by leveraging innovative technology and tools, aligning with international best practices. One of the significant milestones in this regard was the launch of a new IP system by H.E. Abdulla Bin Touq Al Marri, the Minister of Economy, in collaboration with various government entities, federal bodies, and private sector companies. This initiative underscores the UAE’s commitment to fostering a competitive environment and a conducive atmosphere for creativity and innovation. It also seeks to empower local talents by equipping them with the latest technologies and applications in the IP field.

H.E. Al Muaini said, “Today’s session provided a valuable platform for exchanging thoughts and insights for the advancement of the IP sector in the UAE. We are committed to directly listening to the opinions and observations of our partners to refine services of the IP sector. This will not only improve user satisfaction and meet their expectations but also promote the growth of our operations, achieving important objectives such as advancing zero bureaucracy goals and promoting awareness about IP protection across different economic sectors. Furthermore, these efforts will significantly contribute to driving innovation and fostering sustainable growth of our knowledge-based economy.”

The session also reviewed the achievements made by the IP sector in 2024, highlighting key initiatives that solidified the UAE’s position as a global hub in the sector. Among these was the launch of the ‘One Day TM’ initiative, which accelerated the trademark examination process. Additionally, the ‘Your Trademark, Your Identity initiative provided valuable assistance to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in swiftly registering their trademarks. Moreover, the sector has intensified its efforts to protect IP rights in the sports sector through the launch of initiatives and collaboration with relevant public and private organisations in the UAE.

The Ministry of Economy has launched the first phase of the ‘Automatic Blocking’ project, aimed at blocking access to piracy websites that violate intellectual property rights. This initiative also includes a series of specialised workshops focused on creative industries such as video games and publishing, as well as the development of digital programs to raise awareness about the importance of intellectual property and its various domains.

In the field of innovation and industrial property, the Ministry of Economy has simplified procedures to make them more accessible and agile. It has also launched programs to support innovators, including an initiative to promote sustainability-related patents, a system to boost innovation incubators, and AI-powered systems to accelerate patent search and examination processes.

Meanwhile, H.E.  Dr. Eesa Al Bastaki, Chairman of Emirates Science Club, praised the Ministry of Economy for its significant role in the Club obtaining observer status within the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) this year. He noted that this achievement was a result of strong collaboration with the Ministry and its commitment to enhancing the global participation of Emirati talents.

H.E.  Rashid Al Kous, Executive Director of the Emirates Publishers Association, highlighted the role of Emirati publishers in growing the local publishing industry. Since its inception in 2009, the Association has actively supported the sector through various initiatives and programs designed to empower Emirati publishers and expand their presence both regionally and globally, in collaboration with key stakeholders, particularly the Ministry of Economy.

H.E.  Hoda Barakat, President of the International Association for the Protection of Intellectual Property (UAE), commended the Ministry’s strategy to improve the registration of inventions and innovations. She also acknowledged the Ministry’s efforts to simplify procedures, including cost reductions and faster processing, to support national innovations in alignment with the UAE’s vision of becoming a global innovation hub. Additionally, she emphasised the significance of these initiatives in creating a strong national database that showcases the country’s scientific and research progress.

The session concluded with a collective commitment to ongoing communication and collaboration between the Ministry of Economy, its partners, and stakeholders involved. These efforts aim to further enhance the UAE’s intellectual property framework by fostering meaningful partnerships and advancing the intellectual property sector, ultimately driving innovation and contributing to the growth and prosperity of new and emerging sectors.