INTA to open Middle East and North Africa office in Dubai, United Arab Emirates

New York, New York—November 22, 2024—The International Trademark Association (INTA) is pleased to announce the opening of the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) Representative Office in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, marking a significant expansion of the Association’s global presence. The office, scheduled to open in the latter half of 2025, will serve INTA’s growing membership across the MENA region, which currently includes 797 individuals from 262 member organizations.

The MENA region, with a population of 547 million and expected to reach 700 million by 2050, represents a crucial market for intellectual property (IP) rights protection and brand development. The region’s consumer base, valued at US $768 billion in 2023, is projected to grow to US $1.4 trillion by 2032.

“Two core long-term and ongoing goals for INTA are to expand its global presence and continually improve how we serve our members around the world. This includes the Middle East and North Africa, which is booming in terms of IP and innovation and where our membership is growing,” said INTA CEO Etienne Sanz de Acedo.

“The planned opening of the INTA regional office in 2025 in the UAE is a testament to how seriously the UAE takes intellectual property protection and how it has led the way in the region for many years,” added HE Major General Dr. Abdelqudous Al Obaidli, EIPA’s Chairman. “At the Emirates IP Association (EIPA), we are happy to see that our cooperation with INTA and our agreed plans are coming to light, and they pave the way for a successful INTA Annual Meeting in Dubai in 2029.” 

With a GDP of US $5.2 trillion and projected growth of 2.7 percent in 2024, the MENA region is home to several major economies. Their combined economic strength is built on diverse sectors, including agriculture, banking, energy, healthcare, petrochemicals, and telecommunications, with Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE ranked among the top 10 emerging markets worldwide according to the Agility Emerging Markets Logistics Index.

Hoda Barakat of Hoda Barakat Legal Consultancy noted, “We are excited that INTA has chosen Dubai, UAE, for its MENA Representative Office. This is a clear sign of the importance of the UAE on the world stage when it comes to intellectual property. This office will also be a great support to the INTA Annual Meeting in Dubai in 2029.”

The MENA region has demonstrated a significant commitment to IP rights protection, launching major initiatives including a Patent Incubator and Intangible Assets and Finance Committee (UAE), establishing an IP Authority (Egypt), and hosting the World Intellectual Property Organization’s (WIPO) Diplomatic Conference to Conclude and Adopt a Design Law Treaty (Saudi Arabia).

“I am very excited to serve our members and work with officials on many critical issues related to IP in our region. Our board unanimously approving the opening of this office confirms INTA’s commitment to our region,” said Charles Shaban, INTA’s Middle East Consultant.

The new office will support INTA’s regional priorities, including anticounterfeiting efforts, Internet governance, and training for IP examiners, judges, and officials. It will also focus on expanding corporate membership, particularly in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt.

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