Accra:The Ministry of Economy and Tourism (MOET) reviewed the Cabinet Resolution No. 136 of 2026, which exempts student inventors and People of Determination in the UAE from certain industrial property service fees.
According to Emirates News Agency, this resolution is part of the Ministry's broader initiative to boost the country's innovation and intellectual property ecosystem. The initiative aims to create a supportive environment for talent and innovators, facilitate access to intellectual property protection services, and ensure the safeguarding of intellectual output.
Dr. Abdulrahman Hassan Al Muaini, Assistant Undersecretary for the Intellectual Property Sector at MOET, highlighted that the UAE is committed to developing a comprehensive legislative and regulatory environment for industrial property rights protection. This is demonstrated by the issuance of the Federal Law on the Regulation and Protection of Industrial Property Rights and the UAE's accession to the Locarno Agreement for Industrial Designs. These steps reinforce the protection of intellectual property rights and aim to create an attractive environment for inventors, entrepreneurs, and companies.
The resolution, which took effect on September 14, 2026, grants a full exemption from fees for 29 services. Among these services, 11 specifically benefit student inventors and People of Determination, covering areas such as patent registration and industrial design registration. Additionally, the resolution includes further fee exemptions for nine services each for People of Determination and student inventors, significantly reducing the financial burden on these groups.
MOET has reported a 9 percent increase in patent applications during the first half of 2026 compared to the same period in 2025. Utility certificate applications also saw a growth of 21.43 percent in the same timeframe. To date, the total number of registered applications for patents, utility certificates, and industrial designs in the UAE has reached 22,184, indicating a rising interest in the protection of industrial property rights.