The UAE’s Ministry of Economy has unveiled a program geared towards enhancing the protection of intellectual property, amidst a notable uptick in trademark filings within the UAE.

The IP Ecosystem initiative is poised not only to assist inventors and innovators in safeguarding their creations but also to serve as a driver of growth, attracting increased foreign investment, stated Minister of the Economy Abdulla bin Touq on Wednesday.

“The UAE recognizes the importance of putting in place an integrated legislative framework that promotes and encourages creativity, innovation and comprehensive intellectual property protection for talented individuals, skilled professionals, creators, innovators and entrepreneurs in the country,” explained Minister of the Economy Abdulla bin Touq.

The program is also aligned with the UAE’s vision of becoming a global hub for the new economy and the most prosperous society worldwide by 2031. The IP Ecosystem program is underpinned by 11 initiatives encompassing pivotal economic and creative sectors of the UAE, including bolstered backing for new technologies alongside student outreach endeavors.

Upgrading the protections afforded under IP laws and facilitating growth for research and development-centric projects are core tenets of the new initiative. Additionally, the UAE government aims to elevate ministry services, particularly in artificial intelligence, positioning them as nationally marketable products on the international stage.

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With the UAE prioritizing the advancement of creators and innovators as part of its new economy agenda, there has been a substantial surge in trademark applications during 2023. Ministry of Economy data revealed a nearly 10% year-on-year increase in trademark application filings.

Moreover, registered trademarks experienced an uptick of nearly 3%, while registrations for intellectual works soared by a massive 29.5%. Patent applications also witnessed a robust annual surge of 19.5%, totaling 3,415 last year.

The UAE’s legislative and policy strides in recent years have led to substantial expansion in the new economy sectors, with an increasing number of individuals and companies capitalizing on the nation’s growth potential. As of November, the ministry reported that the tally of business licenses tied to creative activities registered in the country had reached 932,000 by the close of the first half of 2023.