The Ministry of Economy has launched a new roadmap for “Green Intellectual Property (IP),” aimed at promoting innovation, accelerating technology localization, and supporting the development of projects related to the new economy, environmental sustainability, and the circular economy. This three-month roadmap is designed to enhance the competitiveness of the UAE’s IP sector, contributing to the nation’s progress and prosperity while supporting its transition to a circular economy.
Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri, Minister of Economy and Chairman of the UAE Circular Economy Council, stated, “Thanks to the visionary leadership of the UAE, we have successfully implemented groundbreaking initiatives in the intellectual property sector, making it a key pillar in building a robust and sustainable national economy.”
Al Marri emphasized that the roadmap serves as a step forward in raising awareness about the importance of green technology and innovation in providing high-quality services and products that benefit society. It also aims to boost the UAE’s appeal to green and sustainable innovations. These efforts are in line with the UAE’s vision to become one of the most innovative countries globally, as outlined in the ‘We the UAE 2031’ plan.
“The launch of this new Green IP roadmap is especially timely as it coincides with this year’s Innovation Month,” he added. “We will work closely with local environmental stakeholders and the World Intellectual Property Organization to implement this roadmap, providing more opportunities for inventors and creators to develop sustainable innovations in vital economic sectors.”
The Ministry of Economy held a media briefing at its Dubai headquarters to discuss the roadmap’s objectives and its importance in supporting national initiatives that promote innovations in the UAE’s sustainable economy sectors.
Abdulla Ahmed Al Saleh, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Economy, emphasized that sustainability and environmental conservation have always been integral to the UAE’s cultural heritage. He noted that the country’s growth has been built on the principles of sustainability, which have strengthened its leadership regionally and globally in adopting eco-friendly solutions.
Al Saleh reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to supporting national projects that promote sustainability across various sectors, aligning with the UAE’s vision of building a sustainable, balanced economy that preserves natural resources for future generations.
“The Green IP roadmap aims to encourage individuals, organizations, and companies to adopt cutting-edge digital solutions and technologies to produce sustainable products and services that contribute to environmental conservation,” he said. “We are eager to forge new partnerships with academia and research institutions to integrate IP into sustainable innovations and safeguard the rights of eco-friendly projects.”
He also pointed out the roadmap’s vital role in fostering innovation in sustainable sectors, boosting the UAE’s global competitiveness, and improving its position in international rankings, such as the Global Innovation Index (GII), where the UAE consistently excels.
The roadmap includes key objectives, such as launching a program to accelerate the registration of patents related to sustainable technologies and eco-friendly innovations. The goal is to increase the share of patent registrations for sustainable innovations to eight percent of the total patents registered in the country.
Additionally, the roadmap will strengthen legal frameworks to protect patents related to environmental sustainability, particularly as the number of patent applications continues to grow—reaching approximately 3,622 in 2024.
Al Saleh also highlighted the UAE’s achievements in creating a strong and competitive legislative framework to support this vital sector, including laws protecting industrial property rights, trademarks, copyrights, and neighboring rights.
The UAE has emerged as a global leader in intellectual property and innovation, ranking first in the region in the 2024 Global Innovation Index (GII).
