UAE Unveils First Regional Digital Trademark Marketplace Aiming for 20% Growth in Trademark Sector

The United Arab Emirates Ministry of Economy and Tourism officially introduced the TM Market Place, a pioneering digital platform designed exclusively for the buying and trading of trademarks within the UAE and the broader region. This national initiative represents a significant advancement in the country’s intellectual property (IP) framework, aiming to foster innovation, competitiveness, and economic diversification.

The launch event was held at the Ministry’s headquarters in Abu Dhabi and attended by key officials including His Excellency Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri, Minister of Economy and Tourism; His Excellency Abdullah Ahmed Al Saleh, undersecretary of the Ministry; and His Excellency Dr. Abdulrahman Hassan Al Muaini, assistant undersecretary for the Intellectual Property Sector.

Minister Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri highlighted that the TM Market Place is the product of collaboration between the Ministry and the UAE Government Leaders Program. He described it as a unique platform enabling trademark owners registered in the UAE to list and trade their trademarks in a secure, transparent environment. The platform connects trademark owners with investors and entrepreneurs, aligning with the UAE leadership’s vision to build a knowledge-based economy and enhance the competitiveness of the business environment.

He emphasized that the platform marks a critical milestone in recognizing intangible business assets by providing fair financial valuation that reflects their true economic worth. By showcasing trademarks to a broad spectrum of investors and entrepreneurs locally and internationally, the TM Market Place aims to transform trademarks into active economic assets, thereby increasing the market value of UAE companies. This is particularly relevant as many UAE companies and individuals hold legally protected trademarks that remain underutilized commercially.

The Minister further explained that the platform offers an integrated, reliable, and secure digital tool for trademark owners to generate returns by listing or selling their registered marks with full transparency and rights protection. It also lowers barriers for investors and entrepreneurs worldwide to access promising trademarks in the UAE, accelerating market entry and business growth.

Additionally, the TM Market Place is designed to support the expansion of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and family businesses by converting trademarks into usable financial assets. It facilitates the trading of trademark-related intangible assets as strategic economic resources that promote innovation, sustainable development, and increased private sector investment in brand building, research and development, and innovative products.

The platform became operational immediately upon launch. Minister Bin Touq expressed optimism about achieving a significant leap in the UAE’s trademark sector, projecting a 20 percent increase in market attractiveness to brands within the first year, alongside enhanced investment in intangible assets.

The Ministry will oversee the platform to ensure compliance with national and international IP laws, employing unified and transparent agreements and upholding the highest consumer protection standards. Transactions on the platform are restricted to trademarks registered in the UAE, in accordance with Federal Decree-Law No. 36 of 2021 on Trademarks, safeguarding trademark owners’ rights and ensuring transparency and security.

To maintain transaction security, the platform requires user login and identity verification. Financial transactions are conducted securely through digital payment systems.

During the launch, the Ministry underscored its ongoing efforts to strengthen the IP and trademark environment through collaboration with public and private sector partners. Key initiatives include the enactment of the Law on Trademark and its executive regulations, the introduction of new Cabinet resolutions on trademark service fees, the development of a registration system for geographical indications for national products, and the UAE’s accession to the Madrid Protocol.

These collective efforts have significantly contributed to the growth of the trademark industry in the UAE. From January to early November 2025, the UAE registered a total of 34,234 national and international trademarks. The first half of 2025 alone saw 19,957 trademarks registered, marking a 129 percent increase compared to the same period in 2024. Overall, trademark registrations doubled in 2024, reaching 31,537 compared to 16,712 in 2023.

The TM Market Place launch aligns with broader government strategies to enhance the UAE’s intellectual property infrastructure and attract global investment, reinforcing the country’s position as a regional hub for innovation and business growth.