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Dubai Future Foundation (DFF) and the UAE Ministry of Economy today announced the launch of the Dubai Intellectual Property Hub (DIPH), the UAE’s first centralised intellectual property (IP) and intangible assets (IA) hub aimed at empowering innovators, artists, entrepreneurs, researchers, academics, and startups.

The platform was announced during the “IP2024: Glimpse on the Future of IP” event at the Museum of the Future, where a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the UAE Ministry of Economy and DFF. The signing took place in the presence of His Excellency Abdullah Bin Touq Al Marri, Minister of Economy; H.E. Alia Abdulla Al Mazrouei, Minister of State for Entrepreneurship; His Excellency Dr. Abdul Rahman Al Muaini, Assistant Undersecretary for the Intellectual Property Rights Sector at the Ministry of Economy, and His Excellency Khalfan Belhoul, CEO of DFF.
Under the MoU, the Ministry of Economy’s feature for registering IA will be integrated into the Dubai Intellectual Property Hub.

Reinforcing Dubai’s position as a centre for technology, the new platform will benefit a wide range of entrepreneurs, innovators, startups, artists, creatives, innovators, researchers and academics working in fields such as creative design, sustainability, health, education and the legal sector.

HE Abdullah Bin Touq Al Marri highlighted the UAE’s unwavering commitment to fostering a vibrant ecosystem that nurtures innovation, stimulates the development of ideas, and supports the growth of creative businesses. The nation has successfully built a comprehensive legislative and institutional framework, further bolstered by integrated services designed to protect intellectual property rights across all sectors, in alignment with international best practices. These endeavours are pivotal in realising the aspirations of the “We the UAE 2031” vision, which seeks to position the UAE as a global leader in the new economy and among the top 10 destinations worldwide for talent and creativity over the next decade.

Al Marri added, that the launch of the Dubai IP Hub, in collaboration with the Dubai Future Foundation, marks a crucial advancement in fortifying intellectual property protections for the creative industries, both in Dubai and across the UAE. This strategic initiative equips entrepreneurs, authors, creatives, and researchers with the necessary tools and resources to secure and formalise their innovations, thereby reinforcing the nation’s economy, which is increasingly driven by creativity and innovation.

H.E. Khalfan Belhoul said: “The collaboration with the Ministry of Economy in developing this platform is part of ongoing efforts to advance the UAE’s legislative framework, strengthen the readiness of all economic sectors, and create a robust R&D ecosystem. By providing vital tools for businesses to thrive, we aim to support their growth and expansion within the UAE, the region, and on a global scale.”

Belhoul added: “The launch of Dubai IP Hub seeks to create a comprehensive and reliable resource for entrepreneurs, offering seamless access to essential information, resources, guidance, and cost details related to intellectual property registration. We remain committed to working with key stakeholders across government, legislative, academic, and entrepreneurial sectors to cement Dubai and the UAE’s position as global leaders in creativity and innovation.”

Focusing on four main pillars, DIPH will provide guidelines for registering all types of intellectual property through a seamless digital experience. It will offer a comprehensive and trusted source of information as well as guidance on IP protection and commercial exploitation by providing tools and resources to develop IP strategies.

One of the hub’s main features is a seamless digital interface that centralises all relevant information, tools, guidelines and resources in a single, easily accessible place.

UAE announces National Economic Registry comprising a reliable database of enterprises and businesses in the country

The UAE has launched a National Economic Registry with a listing of around 1.5m commercial licences in the Kingdom.

The Ministry of Economy announced the launch of the National Economic Registry (NER) – Growth, a unified and reliable database of enterprises and business licenses across the seven emirates.

This platform integrates the procedures and requirements for establishing businesses and conducting economic activities into a single national portal, significantly enhancing government service provision.

UAE National Economic Registry

Abdullah bin Touq Al Marri, Minister of Economy, emphasized that the UAE has adopted this innovative initiative to enhance the sustainable digital readiness of government entities and elevate the government services ecosystem, making it more flexible and competitive.

Bin Touq said: “The ‘Growth’ platform is a remarkable achievement in advancing the national economy. It eliminates bureaucratic hurdles and delivers highly efficient government services, ensuring the UAE offers the best government services globally.”

The platform provides information on more than 2,000 economic activities across the UAE and offers proactive services to a broad spectrum of users, including decision-makers, business owners, investors, and research centers.

It enables users to inquire about any business license, access investment opportunities, and prepare studies on market trends, supporting business growth and government digital management of economic activities using AI technologies.

Bin Touq highlighted that the NER connects 46 entities in the country, utilizing the unified economic number (ERN) to integrate data between federal and local government bodies, furthering the UAE’s digital transformation of services and reducing the need for paperwork.

This is aligned with the ‘We the UAE 2031’ vision of enhancing the UAE’s leadership in government service provision.

He added that the platform will be regularly updated, enhancing transparency in business performance and supporting the UAE’s global credit rating with international classification bodies.

The platform adheres to the International Standard Classification System (ISIC4), promoting sustainable growth in strategic sectors.

The NER also plays a critical role in the UAE’s new economic model, based on innovation and knowledge. By providing additional resources for investors and business owners, it facilitates digital business operations and currently holds 1.5m active and cancelled commercial licenses.

Looking ahead, the Ministry of Economy plans to link the platform with 100 federal and local entities, increase services to 500, and reduce service delivery times over the next two years.

The platform was developed in line with various economic laws, including legislation on commercial companies, the commercial register, and anti-money laundering.

AI is Changing the Hiring Game

AI-driven recruitment is shooting up by 90%! Business Corporations of all scales, whether start-ups or big names, are embracing advanced tech or AI, in hiring the right people. This not only provides the leverage for hiring faster but also getting the right people onboard particularly in specialised fields like AI, blockchain, and machine learning.

UAE: Talent Hub or Global Talent Whirlpool?

There is no denying the fact that the UAE’s reputation speaks volumes. About 80% of businesses say that the country’s national brand is a huge advantage when it comes to attracting top-tier talent. And with the UAE steadily moving from being seen as a mere technology reseller to a true leader in innovation, it’s no wonder talent from all over the world is flocking here.

Report also throws light on the global reach of the UAE’s talent pool. While about 48% of employers say there’s a solid local talent pool within, over 95% still seek international professionals. Sure, some tech experts might have initial misconceptions about working in the UAE, but once they arrive, those doubts quickly fade. It’s the UAE’s promise of career growth, high living standards, and a thriving tech ecosystem that keeps them here.

Emiratization is on the Rise

The report also highlights the increasing momentum of Emiratization. With a 110% spike in discussions across social media and job portals, there’s a growing focus on integrating more Emirati professionals into tech roles. It’s a win-win for the country, ensuring that national talent is part of this booming sector.

Offshoring: A Key to Sustainable Growth

Offshoring continues to be a major growth strategy, with 83% of businesses relying on it to meet their needs. Whether it’s tapping into global markets or filling specialised roles, UAE businesses are looking beyond borders to stay competitive.

Looking Ahead

The report is just the beginning. Leaders from leading brands like du, Coffeee, and Signum AI were on hand to share their perspectives on what’s next for the UAE’s tech talent pool. As Fahad Al Hassawi, CEO of du, put it, the UAE is well on its way to becoming a powerhouse for tech and innovation.

The Ministry of Economy of the United Arab Emirates has unveiled the geographical indications (GI) system for national products, the first-of-its-kind federal initiative to protect local products with distinctive traits and qualities that come from certain geographical locations. The program seeks to open up new markets for UAE companies and improve the intellectual property protection environment for goods with national character.

The ministry organized the launch event in cooperation with the Abu Dhabi Agriculture and Food Safety Authority, Dubai Municipality’s Food Safety Department, Ras Al Khaimah Department of Economic Development, the General Women’s Union and the Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi. The event was attended by Dhahi Khalfan, deputy chief of police in Dubai, and Abdullah Ahmed Al Saleh, under-secretary of the Ministry of Economy.

Two-panel discussions were held during the event. The first highlighted several of the world’s best practices for GI-tagging domestic products, and the second featured successful national models that showed the value of GI-tagged products and their beneficial effects on export, promotion and national image. In recognition of their contributions to the development of the GI system, the Ministry of Economy also honoured the initiative’s partners during the occasion.

More than 200 people attended the event, including leaders from the public and commercial sectors, senior officials, experts, specialists, the local community and other organizations involved in IP protection and sustainable development in the nation.

In keeping with the “We the UAE 2031” vision, the UAE has adopted an ambitious plan to firmly establish itself as a worldwide centre for the new knowledge-based and innovative economy, headed by its visionary leadership. As a major facilitator of a creative and sustainable economy, the UAE has made IP protection and the advancement of its laws national priorities.

The introduction of the GI system reflects a strong commitment to preserving the cultural character of UAE-made goods, marketing them internationally and turning them into financial assets that support community development and economic diversification.

In line with international best practices, the UAE keeps strengthening its IP laws to make its economy more competitive. To preserve the national uniqueness of products and increase their competitiveness both domestically and globally, a specific chapter on GIs has been introduced to the trademark legislation, detailing procedures for their registration and protection.

A new milestone in providing thorough protection for trademarks pertaining to geographic settings and national products that contain cultural and local identity is the introduction of national products with geographical indications. It accomplishes the integration of economic, knowledge-based and heritage-driven elements, opening new opportunities for their development.

The UAE Ministry of Economy granted its second collective music management licence to Music Nation during a ceremony held at its headquarters in Dubai. The licence authorises the organisation to manage the distribution of rights on behalf of music creators and performers, while also ensuring nationwide compliance among music platforms.

It comes as the streaming market is tipped to hit $2.3bn by 2030 and musical artists and producers in the region look to monetise works.

UAE music management
The announcement was made during an event attended by Abdullah Ahmed Al Saleh, Under-Secretary of the Ministry of Economy, and Dr. Abdulrahman Hassan Al Muaini, Assistant Under-Secretary for Intellectual Property.

The Ministry confirmed that the licence was issued in accordance with Federal Decree-Law No. 38 of 2021 concerning copyright and related rights.

It marks the continuation of the Ministry’s efforts to strengthen intellectual property frameworks in the UAE, following the first collective management licence awarded to the Emirates Music Rights Association in April 2025.

Al Saleh said: “Under the vision of our wise leadership, the UAE has placed strategic emphasis on enhancing the competitiveness of its cultural and creative industries, driving their growth both regionally and globally.

“Recognising their vital role in national economic growth, we are committed to fostering public-private collaboration to cultivate an enabling environment for talent and innovation.

“By elevating the creative economy’s legislative framework to world-class standards, we aim to expand the private sector’s participation in it, in line with the National Strategy for Cultural and Creative Industries 2031.”

The Under-Secretary said: “The Ministry remains committed to establishing a world-class copyright governance system, drawing on international best practices. We are achieving this through strengthening legal and regulatory frameworks, fostering investment in creative sectors, and implementing robust collective management systems.

“These measures safeguard intellectual property rights while building creators’ trust in the nation’s creative ecosystem.”

“The collective music management licence serves as a catalyst for cultural innovation while safeguarding artists’ intellectual property rights. Through establishing transparent revenue distribution systems and fair compensation mechanisms, it elevates the UAE’s music industry – enhancing its global competitiveness and positioning our nation as a premier hub for creative enterprises”.

Al Saleh emphasised that awarding the licence to Music Nation marks a strategic milestone in the UAE’s commitment to fostering creativity.

The initiative unlocks new opportunities for artists, writers, and producers while strengthening rights protection and leveraging creative-economy tools – ultimately positioning the sector as a key driver of national economic growth.

Dr. Abdulrahman Hassan Al Muaini said: “Our music industry is witnessing remarkable growth, fuelled by an expanding ecosystem of creative enterprises and world-class events. Dubai alone boasts 350 live music venues, while the national streaming market generated $841.9m in 2024 – projected to nearly triple to $2.3bn by 2030.

“To sustain this momentum, the Ministry of Economy is prioritising robust legislative frameworks that will further catalyse the creative economy and foster artistic innovation.

“Building on last month’s inaugural licence granted to the Emirates Music Rights Association, today marks another significant milestone with the official authorisation of Music Nation.

“We are actively collaborating with local and global partners, including industry associations and legal experts, to share best practices that drive sector growth.

“In tandem, we’re expanding awareness initiatives to ensure artists, composers, and producers fully leverage these licences to protect both their creative works and financial interests.”

Rasha Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairwoman of the Board of Directors for Music Nation, said: “Today marks a pivotal moment for the UAE and Music Nation. After years of careful planning, Music Nation is positioned to become a cornerstone of music licensing, empowering the Emirates’ vibrant creative industry.

‘’As an Emarati, I am honoured to establish a world-class music rights infrastructure that not only elevates local artists to greater heights, but also showcases our rich musical heritage and cultural traditions to the world.

“In partnership with industry leaders BMI and SoundExchange, our cutting-edge technology and services will protect music rights holders and propel the UAE’s music economy to new frontiers”.