The Department of Economic Development – Abu Dhabi, DED, has issued a circular to all media and publishing companies in Abu Dhabi emphasising that it is important that Abu Dhabi registered commercial entities and trademark advertisers obtain the relevant permissions from the Abu Dhabi Business Centre in relation to sales, discounts, offers, and promotions under these trademarks.

Khalifa bin Salem Al Mansouri, Acting Under-Secretary of the Department of Economic Development, said that the department is keen to protect both consumers' and trademark owners' rights. The objective of the circular is to limit the misleading commercial advertisements or those that violate the intellectual property rights of trademark owners.

He praised Abu Dhabi media representatives' attention to the circular issued by the department, which, he said, reflected the high level of partnership and mutual cooperation between both parties and created a favorable attractive business environment for businessmen.

A coordination meeting was conducted with local media representatives to discuss the implementation mechanisms raised by the circular regarding commercial advertisements' publication by Abu Dhabi licensed commercial entities.

During the meeting, the parties discussed the placing of the DED logo with each advertisement published, provided that it shall be permitted by the Department. The participants agreed that the Department shall develop a policies and procedures manual for commercial advertisement publishers to determine the mechanism of advertisement publication for each entity licensed by the Department, and the type of advertisement that requires permissions among others.

They also discussed how to deal with other emirates' licensed trademarks and commercial entities that publish their commercial advertisements in Abu Dhabi.

The meeting recommended that another coordination meeting is required to be held in the presence of National Media Council representatives to coordinate with each other in this regard in accordance with the Federal Media and Publication Law of 1980. The media representatives stressed at the end of the meeting their full compliance with the circular's implementation.

The Department of Economic Development – Abu Dhabi stressed in the circular that it is necessary for all media and publication means to fully comply with the regulation that advertisements shall be given the Department's permission, and it shall also include the Abu Dhabi Consumer Protection logo.

It also explained that Abu Dhabi Business Centre, Permissions and Advertisements Section, is the only party in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi authorised to grant and issue the approvals of said permissions.