UAE Reports Significant 34.3% Growth In Intellectual Property Registrations For 2024

The UAE's Ministry of Economy has reported a significant rise in intellectual property (IP) registrations during the first nine months of 2024. This increase highlights the country's efforts to create an innovation-friendly environment. The registration of trademarks, patents, and utility certificates has seen substantial growth, reflecting progress in supporting research and development (R&D) and entrepreneurship across various sectors.

In the first three quarters of 2024, IP registrations in the UAE increased by 34.3 percent compared to the same period in 2023. Trademark registrations rose by 39.12 percent, while patents, utility certificates, and industrial designs saw an 8 percent increase. The Ministry registered a total of 1,884 IP works, up from 1,402 in the previous year, bringing the cumulative total to 20,389.

As of September 2024, the UAE attracted 18,175 new trademarks, marking a 39 percent increase from the previous year. The Ministry received a total of 24,258 trademark registration applications and handled 8,171 trademark inquiries. This brought the number of active trademarks in UAE markets to 356,408.

The demand for IP registration has grown across multiple sectors. The Ministry received 1,946 applications for IP registration during this period, representing a 53.23 percent increase over last year's figure of 1,270 applications. Additionally, there were 153 reports of IP violations filed and 209 applications processed for registering importers and distributors of IP rights—a growth of 26.67 percent.

The data also indicates an increase in registered patents, utility certificates, and industrial designs by 8 percent by September's end in 2024. The total reached was 15,051. Registration applications rose by 3.8 percent with a submission count of 3,489 compared to the same period last year.

Abdullah Ahmed Al Saleh, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Economy stated that these results highlight the UAE's commitment to developing a strong IP ecosystem that aligns with global standards. He noted that this reinforces knowledge and creativity as key drivers for economic growth.

Commitment to Global Standards

Al Saleh emphasised that the Ministry is dedicated to working with both public and private sector entities to provide necessary resources for enhancing growth and competitiveness within the IP sector. This effort aligns with the 'We the UAE 2031' vision which aims to position the UAE among the top ten destinations worldwide for global talent.

The Ministry has focused on advancing legislation while launching comprehensive initiatives for both industrial and creative sectors alike.

With inputs from WAM