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creators to transform their ideas into sustainable projects, enriching both the cultural and
economic landscape.

She said: “In a world where ideas and knowledge are a kind of capital, protecting the rights of
creators is not just a legal duty but a strategic imperative. Intellectual property is the backbone of a
thriving creative economy that empowers people, strengthens industries, and fosters sustainable
innovation. Through this conference, we reaffirm our commitment to building frameworks that
balance accessibility with fairness, ensuring that the work of authors, publishers, and creatives
continues to enrich societies worldwide. Working together, we can shape an ecosystem where
creativity is valued and protected as a force for cultural and economic progress.”

Leading the global dialogue

His Excellency Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri delivered a compelling speech in which he highlighted the
significant efforts of Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi in advancing the publishing sector and
creative industries in the UAE. He also acknowledged her leadership in driving international
cooperation to protect and empower creators.
He said: “The UAE’s hosting of the First International Reprographic Rights Conference reflects our
commitment and active role in fostering discussions and dialogue on both local and global levels,
providing all necessary means to support the protection of intellectual property rights, particularly
reprographic rights.” He also stressed that, under the guidance of the UAE’s visionary leadership,
the country has made significant strides in developing an advanced legislative framework for
intellectual property. Based on best international practices, this framework includes Federal
Decree-Law No. 38 of 2021 on Reprographic Right and Related Rights. Through collaboration with
key partners, the Ministry of Economy has worked tirelessly to create a competitive and robust
legislative environment for authors and creative professionals, positioning the UAE as a leading
global hub for creative industries.

“Enhancing international cooperation in reprographic protection and collaborating with relevant
global institutions is essential for exchanging the latest expertise, best practices, and trends in this
field. Therefore, the UAE has proactively joined international treaties and established fruitful
partnerships to protect intellectual property rights and support the growth of businesses and
activities within creative sectors such as culture, arts, music, and literature,” His Excellency
concluded.

Furthermore, he shared impressive statistics achieved by the intellectual property sector in the UAE
by the end of 2024. Among the key figures, over 370,000 national and international trademarks are
registered in the UAE markets, and over 21,000 intellectual works have been registered.
Additionally, nearly 24,500 applications for intellectual work registration were received, and the
total number of patents registered in the country exceeded 6,100. Moreover, over 9,500 industrial
designs have been registered. His Excellency also highlighted the success of the Anti-Piracy Lab,
launched by the Ministry last year to block websites violating intellectual property and copyright
laws, which has successfully shut down 4,076 infringing websites.

Prominent role

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