On the sidelines of its participation in “Make it in the Emirates 2026”

Ministry of Economy and Tourism and Hub71 sign MoU to enhance cooperation in IP and patents, foster culture of creativity and innovation in UAE

>> Undersecretary of the Ministry of Economy and Tourism: Today we are witnessing a new step towards enhancing the competitiveness of the UAE’s IP and patent ecosystem through this new partnership with Hub71.

In the presence of H.E. Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri, Minister of Economy and Tourism, the Ministry of Economy and Tourism signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Hub71, Abu Dhabi’s global tech ecosystem, to strengthen cooperation in intellectual property (IP), patents, and agentic AI, while fostering a culture of creativity and innovation across UAE society and the wider business ecosystem. The MoU was signed by H.E. Abdullah Ahmed Al Saleh, Undersecretary of the Ministry, and Ahmad Ali Alwan, CEO of Hub71.

The signing took place on the sidelines of the Ministry’s participation in ‘Make it in the Emirates 2026,’ held from 4 to 7 May. The event convened leading industrial and advanced technology companies to support the growth of local manufacturing, strengthen supply chains, and enable companies of all sizes to manufacture, scale, and export from the UAE.

On this occasion, H.E. Abdullah Al Saleh affirmed that intellectual property is a key pillar in strengthening the growth and competitiveness of the national economy. H.E. highlighted the Ministry’s commitment to developing an integrated legislative and regulatory framework for intellectual property, innovation, and patents, while providing the necessary enablers to support the growth of projects driven by knowledge, innovation, research, and development.

H.E. added: “Today marks another important step towards enhancing the competitiveness of the UAE’s IP and patent ecosystem through the signing of this MoU with Hub71. The agreement supports innovators and creators in registering and protecting their IP rights, while fostering an enabling environment that transforms innovative ideas into legally protected, value-added products and services.”

Ahmad Ali Alwan, CEO of Hub71, said: “Protecting innovation is a fundamental pillar in the growth journey and expansion of tech companies. Through our collaboration with the Ministry of Economy and Tourism, we are enhancing access for startups within the Hub71 ecosystem to IP expertise and patent support, empowering founders to effectively protect and manage their ideas as their businesses scale.”

The MoU supports the exchange of expertise and knowledge related to intellectual property and patent practices, while promoting more effective ways to leverage these assets. It also seeks to align national efforts to further develop a business environment that fosters innovation and creativity. In addition, the agreement focuses on organising awareness campaigns and specialised training programmes for entrepreneurs and startup founders on various aspects of intellectual property, particularly patents.

Under the agreement, the Ministry of Economy and Tourism will provide Hub71 with technical and legal advisory services in intellectual property matters, while coordinating the organisation of specialised events such as exhibitions, conferences, and seminars. The Ministry will also support the acceleration of patent application examinations, helping to enhance the overall efficiency of the IP ecosystem. Furthermore, the MoU will facilitate the commercialisation of patents developed by startups within the Hub71 ecosystem, enabling greater opportunities for growth and international expansion, while further strengthening the UAE’s position as a leading regional centre for innovation and intellectual property.