Dubai Customs observes World Intellectual Property Day to celebrate contribution of women to innovation and creativity

For the 2023 World Intellectual Property Day celebration, Dubai Customs went all out under the slogan "Women and IP: Accelerating Innovation and Creativity." His Excellency Ahmed Mahboob Musabih, Director General of Dubai Customs and CEO of Ports, Customs and Free Zone Corporation, presided over the gala event.

Engineer Abdullah Belhoul, CEO of the Planning and Development Department-Tarkhees, Mahmoud Amin, Maritime Agent for Ports, Customs and Free Zone Corporation, Dr Metha Buhumaid, Director General of the Dubai Press Club, Malik Hanouf, CEO of Brand Owners' Protection Group, and Alia Shamlan, Director of Dubai Farjan, were also present at the event. Representatives from numerous federal, state, municipal, and international diplomatic missions attended the ceremony as well.

Ahmed Mahboob emphasized the crucial part that women play in advancing society in all areas and dubbed them vital co-creators and co-architects of development. With the "Al-Thuraya Award," Dubai Customs honoured the outstanding accomplishments made by women in the field of customs.

The UAE's non-oil foreign trade sector's value increased by 17% in 2022 to reach over AED 2.2 trillion, and more than 101 million people travelled via its airports. Dubai Customs is dedicated to upgrading commercial, customs, and travel-related services and facilities to keep up with this rapid expansion. Dubai's economic strategy, D33, intends to add 400 additional locations to its global trade map by 2033 and quadruple Dubai's international trade value to AED 25.6 trillion for products and services. One of the key pillars of boosting the nation's competitiveness and luring greater commerce is protecting intellectual property rights.

Dubai Customs has been tenaciously chasing fake products and battling to defend the rights of intellectual property. The government department took on 15 million counterfeit items for a total of 110 million AED in 2022, handling 388 cases of intellectual property issues. Dubai Customs processed 112 cases involving 10 million counterfeit items for a total of 29 million AED during the first quarter of 2023.

The government agency organizes recycling activities to get rid of confiscated fake items, demonstrating its commitment to environmental responsibility. 93 recycling activities involving 173,000 fake items were carried out in 2022. 24 recycling operations were carried out in the first quarter of 2023, properly getting rid of 44,000 fake items.

To educate the public about the hazards and perils of counterfeit goods, Dubai Customs organized 44 awareness initiatives. To further strengthen the defence of intellectual property rights, the oldest government agency in the emirate has also registered 350 trademarks and 160 commercial entities. 91 trademarks and 86 commercial agencies were registered in the first quarter of 2023.

The World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) Director General, Darren Tang, emphasized the significant contribution women have made to civilization throughout history in a speech he gave via video during the ceremony. WIPO is putting in place a comprehensive framework to safeguard intellectual property rights and encourage women's involvement in all important economic and social spheres to support this. This program strives to make it possible for all groups, especially women and young people, to advance humanity on a worldwide scale.

The Dubai Customs Intellectual Property Award for schools and colleges will be introduced in 2023 as another way for Dubai Customs to inspire the next generation to join the battle against counterfeit products. On World Intellectual Property Day 2023, Alia Al Shamlan and Dr. Metha Buhumaid, directors of the Dubai Press Club and Farjan Dubai, respectively, received the Personality of the Year award from Ahmed Mahboob Musabih.

Dr. Buhumaid was honoured for playing a crucial part in showcasing Dubai's accomplishments and success tales via different media outlets, including social media. Al Shamlan was recognized for her important role in creating an enduring neighbourhood bond in Dubai using a single digital platform called Instagram.

The Dubai Customs Intellectual Property Award was also given to several schools, including Al Mawakeb School-Al Khawaneej for developing the Customs Robot and Al Zawraa School in Ajman for its innovative IP ACADEMY application.

It is commendable that Dubai Customs is so committed to upholding intellectual property rights since their work not only helps to maintain the integrity of the market but also fosters environmental stewardship and increases public awareness of the risks posed by fake goods.