Ministry of Economy and Tourism unveils InstaBlock initiative outcomes on copyright protection for creative content and digital broadcasting

13,667 infringing websites blocked in Q1 2026, marking 400 per cent growth

The Ministry of Economy and Tourism unveiled the results of its recent oversight campaign conducted through ‘InstaBlock,’ the instant-response service for reporting copyright infringement in creative content and digital broadcasting. InstaBlock was previously launched by the Ministry as part of its integrated intellectual property (IP) system, alongside the establishment of the InstaBlock Centre for immediate website blocking.

The campaign successfully blocked 13,667 infringing websites during the first quarter of 2026, up nearly 400 per cent compared to the same period last year. Since the launch of the InstaBlock Centre in February 2025, the total number of blocked websites has reached 47,667. The Centre leverages advanced artificial intelligence (AI) tools to enable real-time monitoring and rapid processing of infringement reports, including the swift blocking of violating websites and limiting the spread of unlicensed content.

H.E. Dr. Abdulrahman Hassan Al Muaini, Assistant Undersecretary for the Intellectual Property Rights Sector at the Ministry of Economy and Tourism, affirmed that the success of monitoring and awareness efforts, and the continued operation of the InstaBlock initiative, reflect the effectiveness of the national approach to IP protection. H.E. highlighted that the initiative has enhanced its operational capabilities in cooperation with strategic partners, in line with international best practices. It has also contributed to reinforcing a secure digital environment that supports creativity and innovation, strengthening rights holders’ confidence in the legislative ecosystem and government procedures, and enhancing the UAE’s position in digital anti-piracy indicators.

The campaign forms part of the collaboration between the Ministry of Economy and Tourism and (LaLiga) and the Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority (TDRA), while strengthening partnerships with key stakeholders, including media institutions and digital content platforms. These include Abu Dhabi Media Network, MBC Shahid, Orbit Showtime Network (OSN), Yango Play, and Starzplay, along with partners from other sectors, including the Brand Owners Protection Group and Nissan Middle East.

The campaign focused on blocking infringing websites in cooperation with the TDRA, particularly during the holy month of Ramadan, when violations related to broadcasting and digital content rights protected under the Copyright and Neighbouring Rights Law tend to surge. The Ministry was committed to instant response to infringement reports, including round-the-clock receipt and handling of reports, in continued coordination with strategic partners.

There has been a significant rise in the number of websites blocked during Ramadan over recent years, reflecting enhanced response efficiency and faster digital enforcement. The number of blocked websites reached 62 during Ramadan 2023, increased to 1,117 in Ramadan 2024, then to 2,217 in Ramadan 2025, going further up to 5,677 during Ramadan 2026.

The campaign also contributed to strengthening integration among government entities in ensuring effective enforcement of relevant legislation, as well as enhancing operational coordination with TDRA to ensure continuous monitoring and faster responses. It raised community awareness of the importance of respecting intellectual property rights in creative works on digital platforms, encouraged access to content through official and licensed sources, supporting efforts to block infringing websites and platforms.

The Ministry of Economy and Tourism explained that these efforts form part of the national approach to fostering a secure and conducive digital environment that nurtures innovation and protects IP rights. It also highlighted the pivotal role of initiative partners and their valuable contributions in achieving its objectives, which support enhancing the UAE’s global competitiveness in digital content protection indicators and contribute to the growth of creative industries and the economy based on knowledge, technology and innovation, in line with the ‘We the UAE 2031’ vision.

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