UAE Economic Integration Committee charts path for growth in 2025

The UAE Economic Integration Committee, led by H.E. Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri, Minister of Economy, convened its first meeting for 2025, with participation from H.E. Alia Bint Abdulla Al Mazrouei, Minister of State for Entrepreneurship, and local economic department directors.

The meeting reviewed 2024’s achievements, including significant contributions to legislative reforms, economic diversification, and enhancing the country’s business and investment climate.

The UAE’s economic performance in 2024 showcased progress in innovation-led growth. Non-oil GDP grew by 4.4% during H1 2024 compared to the same period in 2023, with non-oil sectors contributing 75% of the GDP by mid-year. These achievements underscore the Committee’s role in fostering collaboration between federal and local entities to harmonise economic legislation and align policies with global standards.

IP laws

Key accomplishments include the development of five new laws and four economic policies targeting critical sectors such as consumer rights, corporate governance, cooperatives, and anti-money laundering (AML). Initiatives to enhance intellectual property (IP) protection and support family businesses were also highlighted, contributing to the UAE’s global competitiveness.

In 2024, the Committee established seven task forces to enhance economic cooperation, implemented 79 recommendations—over 98% of which were successfully executed—and supported the UAE’s removal from the Financial Action Taskforce (FATF) grey list by strengthening AML measures.

Looking ahead, the Committee plans to further develop the IP ecosystem through initiatives such as ‘Instablock’ for copyright protection and ‘IP Finance’ to help startups access funding using intangible assets. These efforts aim to position the UAE as a leader in innovation, supporting the ‘We the UAE 2031’ vision and bolstering its knowledge economy and emerging sectors.