AED 29 million worth of Dubai Customs transactions with 112 counterfeit goods disputes in the first quarter

Ahmed Mahboob Musabih, Director General of Dubai Customs and CEO of the Ports, Customs and Free Zone Corporation, said that the number of intellectual property dispute cases dealt with by the Department last year amounted to 388 cases, including about 15 million pieces of counterfeit goods worth AED 110 million, while the number of intellectual property dispute cases in the first quarter of 2023 reached 112 cases, including 10 million pieces of counterfeit goods with a total value of AED 29 million.

During Dubai Customs' annual celebration on the occasion of World Intellectual Property Day 2023, under the theme "Women and Intellectual Property: Accelerating Innovation and Creativity", Musabih added that the Department is making great progress in combating counterfeit goods and protecting intellectual property rights, in partnership with law enforcement authorities, noting that the World Intellectual Property Organization's selection of the slogan "Women and Intellectual Property: Accelerating Innovation and Creativity" for World Intellectual Property Day 2023 reflects the importance of the role of women in promoting innovation and creativity in all fields.

He added: "The protection of intellectual property rights is doubly important with the escalation of the value of the UAE's non-oil foreign trade, which amounted to AED 2022.2 trillion in 2, a growth of 17% compared to 2021, and the number of passengers through the country's airports last year reached 101 million passengers, which prompts us to keep pace with this rapid increase in the value of trade and the number of passengers by developing trade and customs services and facilities provided to facilitate trade and travel."

He added that the department organized 44 awareness initiatives to introduce the dangers and harms of counterfeit goods last year, in which more than 10,350 participants participated, 160 trademarks and 91 commercial agencies were registered, and in the first quarter of this year, 86 trademarks and 24 commercial agencies were registered, 2023 awareness initiatives were organized, and the Dubai Customs Intellectual Property Award was launched in schools and universities for the year <>.

Daren Tang, Director General of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), said in his speech at the ceremony, which was presented via videoconference: "Women have played an important role in building civilization since ancient times, and WIPO is working to consolidate the role of women in creativity and innovation through a comprehensive system for the protection of intellectual property rights that ensures the promotion of women's global participation in all key economic and social fields."

The ceremony was attended by Eng. Abdullah Belhoul, CEO of the Department of Planning and Development (Trakhees), Mahmoud Amin, Shipping Agent at the Ports, Customs and Free Zone Corporation, Dr. Maitha Buhumaid, Director of the Dubai Press Club, Malik Hannouf, Director of the Brand Owners Council, Alia Al Shamlan, Director of (Dubai Furjan), and representatives of federal and local government entities and representatives of foreign diplomatic bodies.

Ahmed Mahboob Musabih handed over the awards to the winning schools of the Dubai Customs Award for Intellectual Property in Schools, where Al Mawakeb Private School - Al Khawaneej won the first place for the innovation of Customs Robot, Al Zorah School - Ajman for the smart IP ACADEMY application, and the second place was won by Rubu' Qarn Foundation - Sharjah for the smart IP educate centre application, and the third place was won by um Al Ula School - Fujairah for the smart application of your idea is your property, and a special honor was presented to a number of schools and universities participating in the award, namely Al Rashidiya School - Dubai for The Smart I-P-RCOURSE App and Zayed Educational Complex - Al Barsha Dubai for the Kafaati Smart App and Zayed University – Abu Dhabi for the DCIP Smart Application Project, as well as a special honor for the innovative students from the participating teams at Al Mawakeb Private School, namely Sami Al Shamali and Ahmed Hassan from the first team, Khalifa Al Suwaidi, Dawood Al Awadhi and Hamad Al Awadhi from the second team, Ghina Nahlawi, Rabab Hilal, Hadi Al Sabsabi, Amer Abu Najm and Amer Al Muhairi from the third team.

His Excellency the Director General of Dubai Customs and CEO of the Ports, Customs and Free Zone Corporation honored the strategic partners of the Department in protecting intellectual property rights.

He also honored the most dealers with the Department in the protection of intellectual property rights, where the most registered entity for trademarks was honored.