Dubai Customs And Gulf BPG Strengthen Cooperation To Protect Intellectual Property Under Project Zero

Dubai Customs is deepening its work against counterfeit goods through a new partnership with the Brand Owners Protection Group (Gulf BPG). A memorandum of understanding between the two organisations supports Project Zero, an initiative that targets fake products while linking customs control with environmental and social sustainability goals across Dubai and the wider region.

The agreement strengthens cooperation on intellectual property rights protection and aligns with national plans for a safe, sustainable trade system. By coordinating public and private sector efforts, the MoU supports Dubai’s ambition to remain a trusted global trading centre, where trademark owners, investors, and consumers benefit from stronger safeguards against illicit trade.

Project Zero sits at the core of this collaboration. Dubai Customs launched the initiative to combat the circulation of counterfeit goods and convert seized items into reusable products. The programme merges intellectual property enforcement, waste reduction and support for communities in need, creating a model that links customs oversight with circular economy practices.

Under Project Zero, counterfeit goods are not simply destroyed. They are diverted into processes that extract value while avoiding environmental harm. This direction aligns with Dubai Customs’ wider vision to integrate sustainability into customs operations. It also supports broader economic objectives by limiting illegal competition that harms legitimate trademark owners and brand investments.

The memorandum of understanding establishes a formal structure for institutional cooperation between Dubai Customs and Gulf BPG. It covers the exchange of information, expertise, and technical knowledge on trademark protection. The framework is designed to improve operational mechanisms against counterfeit and fraudulent goods and to reinforce efforts to build a resilient, sustainable economy.

The MoU was signed by Mansoor Al Malik, Executive Director for Policies and Legislation Division at Dubai Customs, and Malek Hannouf, Chairman of Gulf BPG. Senior representatives from both parties attended the signing. Their presence underlined the importance of unified action between government bodies and brand owners in addressing intellectual property violations.

Mansoor Al Malik said, "The MoU marks an important step in Dubai Customs’ efforts to advance Project Zero, which aims to make Dubai the world’s first city free of counterfeit goods. Cooperation with the Brand Owners Protection Group—which includes major global brands such as Louis Vuitton and Puma—strengthens our ability to unify efforts and exchange knowledge and expertise in order to build an integrated system for protecting intellectual property rights. We believe that trademark protection is not the responsibility of a single entity, but a strategic partnership between the public and private sectors that ensures a fair and sustainable business environment and reinforces the confidence of investors and brand owners in Dubai’s markets."

For Gulf BPG, the agreement reinforces a long-running relationship with Dubai Customs. Malek Hannouf stressed that the partnership supports the circular economy and sustainability while raising the level of protection for member brands. Hannouf praised the project’s objectives, describing them as a major advance in the regional fight against counterfeiting activities.

Hannouf also highlighted Dubai Customs’ technological capabilities, which include advanced AI-driven digital platforms and modern inspection practices. These tools are expected to enhance detection of counterfeit shipments and enable faster, data-led responses. According to Hannouf, the MoU will further support brand owners’ protection measures and strengthen their commercial operations across Dubai’s markets and trade routes.

The strengthened partnership around Project Zero confirms that the fight against counterfeit goods in Dubai is moving towards more integrated, technology-driven and sustainability-focused methods. By linking intellectual property rights enforcement with circular economy principles, Dubai Customs and Gulf BPG are building a cooperative framework that supports legitimate trade and helps maintain trust in the emirate’s trading system.

With inputs from WAM