Prime Highlight:
- The UAE introduced the TM Market Place, the region’s first digital platform to facilitate buying and selling of trademarks, aiming to increase the market’s attractiveness by 20% in its first year.
- The platform allows businesses to monetize unused trademarks, connecting owners with investors and entrepreneurs in a secure online environment.
Key Facts:
- From January to early November 2025, the UAE registered 34,234 trademarks, with 2024 registrations doubling compared with 2023.
- Only trademarks registered in the UAE can be listed on the platform, and all users must verify their identity, with payments processed through secure digital systems.
Background
The UAE has launched the Middle East’s first digital platform for buying and selling trademarks. The TM Market Place, introduced by the Ministry of Economy and Tourism on Tuesday, aims to make trademark trading easier and more transparent for businesses.
The platform became fully operational from the day it launched. According to Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri, Minister of Economy and Tourism, the goal is to increase the attractiveness of the UAE trademark market by 20% within the first year. He said the initiative will connect trademark owners with investors and entrepreneurs in a safe online environment.
Officials said the platform fills a major gap in the business sector, where many registered trademarks remain unused despite holding strong commercial value. The new system allows companies to list and monetise these intangible assets and receive fair financial valuation.
The initiative was developed with support from the UAE Government Leaders Programme. The company expects the new office to help small and medium enterprises and family businesses turn their trademarks into usable financial resources.
The TM Market Place will also make it easier for global investors to enter the UAE by offering access to ready-made brand identities. This reduces the time and cost of building a brand from scratch.
The UAE continues to see strong growth in trademark activity. From January to early November 2025, the country registered 34,234 trademarks, while registrations in 2024 doubled compared with 2023.
The Ministry said it will monitor the platform to ensure compliance with national and international intellectual property rules. Only trademarks registered in the UAE can be listed, and all users must log in to verify their identity. Payments will be handled through secure digital systems.
