The Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) and Dubai Future Foundation (DFF) have launched their Intellectual Property Clinic as a permanent one-to-one service for eligible Emirati founders, following a successful pilot.
The clinics give entrepreneurs practical guidance before they start the IP registration process, helping them decide what to prioritise and what steps to take next. Each DFF-led session begins with the founder’s business, brand and differentiators, then moves on to which brand assets may deserve protection and the considerations around trademark classes and ownership.
The approach treats intellectual property as a commercial asset rather than a filing exercise. Clear ownership of names, logos and other identifiers can support investment, licensing, franchising, export and expansion, and investors and franchise partners increasingly look for it before committing capital.
The pilot validated the strategy-first model, and DFF has developed the materials and delivery framework needed to offer it to a wider group of eligible founders. The clinic sits within the Dubai IP Hub, launched in 2024 by DFF and the UAE Ministry of Economy and Tourism. It complements federal registration processes by adding an advisory layer before filing.
Ahmad Al Room Almheiri, CEO of the Mohammed Bin Rashid Establishment for Small and Medium Enterprises Development (Dubai SME), said the clinic helps founders move from awareness to action by showing what they have created and how stronger ownership can support growth.
Khalifa Al Qama, Chief of Research, Development and Innovation at DFF, said the strongest IP strategies begin before an application is filed.
The initiative supports the Dubai Economic Agenda, D33, which aims to double the size of Dubai’s economy by 2033.
News Source: WAM
