The introduction of the first digital platform in the region for purchasing and selling trademarks in the UAE marks a significant milestone in the innovation of intellectual property in the Middle East. The platform, TM Marketplace, was officially launched by the Ministry of Economy and Tourism in Abu Dhabi, making the UAE a global center for IP investment and brand ownership.
The new platform is developed as part of the UAE Government Leaders Programme and will allow businesses, entrepreneurs, and investors to trade trademarks in a way that is secure and transparent. The project is a significant move towards making the UAE a stronger, competitive economy and making it more attractive as a destination to international brands.
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Transforming intangible assets into economic value
Minister of Economy and Tourism Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri said the launch is a future-oriented strategy of developing a knowledge-based economy in the country. TM Marketplace allows proprietors of trademarks registered in the UAE to post and sell them in a safe setting, directly linking them with investors and entrepreneurs, he said.
He also mentioned that a lot of companies in the UAE have precious trademark resources, which they do not use in their business. The platform enables such intangible assets to receive a reasonable financial valuation and be converted into active economic resources, which eventually enhances the market value of the local businesses.
Empowering SMEs and breaking market barriers
SMEs and family businesses will benefit especially through the increase in liquidity and the speeding up of the potential for growth of the brand. The ease of entry by investors in the UAE will also be reduced with ready-made trademarks that can be purchased and launched within a short time. According to Bin Touq, the trading of trademarks will promote more investment in brand development, intellectual property rights, and growth based on innovation in the private sector.
Secure, transparent, and globally aligned
The platform was operational on day one, and the ministry aims to increase trademark market interest by up to 20 percent in the first year.
To safeguard the rights holders, the listing and transaction of trademarks will be confined to national and international trademarks registered in the UAE under Federal Decree-Law No. 36 of 2021 on Trademarks.
They will be required to log in to authenticate their identity, and their transactions will be handled safely via digital payment channels.
Part of an integrated IP ecosystem
The UAE is consistently enhancing its intellectual property system by conducting reforms at the regulatory level and through international relations. The major developments in the recent past are
- Updated trademark laws and executive regulations
- Revised service fee structures
- A registration system for Geographical Indications (GI)
- The UAE is joining the Madrid Protocol for international trademark registration
The steps have led to phenomenal increments in trademark applications in the UAE.
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Surging demand for trademark ownership
During January and the first half of November 2025, there were a total of 34,234 trademark registrations in the UAE. Registrations were 19,957 in the first half of 2025, which was 129 percent year-on-year. The trend has been on the increase, with the 2024 registrations doubling to 31537 in contrast to 16712 in 2023.
A first-of-its-kind move for the region
TM Market Place is a qualitative change in brand value, trade, and monetization within the UAE. Due to the rapid economic diversification, the platform will be a critical instrument to companies looking to increase their commercial presence, find investment, and unlock the trademark assets.
Under this strategic initiative, the UAE remains in the process of consolidating its role as the international hub of innovation, entrepreneurship, and intellectual property excellence; future industries; and the creation of a modern, knowledge-based economy.