Dubai sees 34% jump in trademark registrations in 2019

US brands filed the highest number of trademark registrations last year, official figures show

The UAE economy grew at an accelerated pace in 2019, driven by the OPEC country's oil industry. Getty Images

Dubai saw a 34 per cent jump in trademarks registered in 2019 as owners and commercial agencies sought to protect themselves against intellectual property theft.

Figures from Dubai’s Department of Economic Development, also known as Dubai Economy, on Sunday showed trademarks registered at its Commercial Compliance & Consumer Protection unit reached 5,157 last year.

Registrations for 50 new commercial agencies were also filed – a 127 per cent year-on-year increase.

US brands registered  the highest number of trademark applications, with 1,585, or 31 per cent of the total. UAE companies registered 818 applications, while German brand registrations rose by 7 per cent to 373.

France, Britain, Italy, Switzerland, Japan, British Virgin Islands, India, China, Saudi Arabia, South Korea and Canada were also among the top 15 source countries for trademark applications.

“The rising number of trademarks and agencies registered shows the importance of Dubai Economy, not only in attracting the best and highest-quality brands from around the world but also in providing multi-channel intellectual property protection,” said Mohammed Ali Rashed Lootah, chief executive of Dubai Economy's Consumer Compliance and Consumer Protection unit.

“The 34 per cent increase in trademark files also indicates brand owners recognising the importance of the retail sector and purchasing power in Dubai as well as the healthy competition among them and their confidence in Dubai Economy in protecting their rights.”

Dubai Economy’s Intellectual Property Protection Department also received 298 complaints relating to trademark infringement in 2019, up 1 per cent compared to 2018.

US trademarks were involved in 58 of the trademark infringement complaints in 2019 while Emirati and French brands were involved in 43 cases.

Perfumes were the leading category of goods involved in the complaints with 35 cases, followed by cosmetics, personal care products, jewellery, clothes, phones, accessories, bags and leather products.