Dubai Customs supports environmental protection efforts in the UAE by recycling counterfeit goods seized at customs centers, preventing them from entering local markets to safeguard the community from their risks and harms, and to protect the intellectual property rights of trademark holders. The department has successfully recycled approximately 134,000 counterfeit items from 42 brands, with an estimated value of 1.018 million dirhams, in collaboration with the trademark owners. The recycled counterfeit goods were transformed into usable materials for various sectors, including bags, clothing, watches, gloves, sunglasses, and car filters. The recycling operations were conducted in the presence of representatives from the diplomatic missions of the United States, Germany, Japan, and the United Kingdom.
Youssef Azhar Mubarak, Director of Intellectual Property Rights Protection at Dubai Customs, stated: "In line with our role in protecting the health and safety of the community, we continue our efforts to combat counterfeit goods by recycling them in collaboration with brand owners to protect the environment and safeguard it from the harms of traditional destruction methods that conflict with the environmental protection regulations applied in the UAE. The recycling processes convert counterfeit goods into materials that can be utilized in various fields, thereby sparing our society from the dangers caused by counterfeit goods and the environmental damages resulting from their traditional disposal methods that are harmful to the environment."
He added: "We prioritize combating counterfeit goods and preventing their entry into the country through the customs centers in Dubai to avoid their environmental, health, and economic damages. We cooperate with diplomatic entities in the country and brand owners to achieve the best results that support the development of the UAE by protecting the intellectual property rights of traders and investors to enhance the advantages offered by our national economy."
He explained that recycling processes provide brand owners with an alternative option that ensures environmental protection while preventing counterfeit goods from competing with their original products, thereby enhancing their ability to fully realize their rights and achieve returns on investment in creativity and innovation for product development.
