Protecting Innovation in a Fast-Moving World: Manuel Giesen on Intellectual Property, Startups and the Future of Business in the UAE
An exclusive UAE Times interview with Manuel Giesen, Managing Director of MGT Patent and Trademark Services
As the UAE continues to strengthen its position as a global hub for entrepreneurship, technology and innovation, intellectual property protection has become an increasingly important part of building and scaling a successful business. For startups and established companies alike, protecting an idea, invention, brand or technological breakthrough can be critical to long-term growth.
At the intersection of European technical expertise and the UAE’s rapidly evolving business ecosystem is MGT Patent and Trademark Services, led by Managing Director Manuel Giesen. With a focus on patents, trademarks and intellectual property protection, Giesen is working to help businesses secure and protect their innovations while preparing them for international growth.
In this exclusive conversation with UAE Times, Manuel Giesen discusses his journey into the intellectual property sector, the importance of trust in the industry, the changing IP landscape across the GCC, and his vision for connecting innovative UAE businesses with major global markets.
What inspired you to become Managing Director of MGT Patent and Trademark Services and focus your work in the Intellectual Property Protection industry?
When I first came to Dubai, I was immediately captivated by the energy you can feel on every corner of this city. What has been built here over the past 25 years is simply amazing. When I saw that the startups in this city are driven by the same energy, it became clear to me that I wanted to help protect a company that safeguards the great ideas of these young founders and supports the companies’ continued growth through a tailored patent and trademark strategy.
What key obstacles or challenges have you encountered on this journey, and what lessons have you learned as a leader working within the Patent and Trademark industry?
Intellectual Property Protection is a matter of trust. Being a renowned expert in the technical fields of future mobility and humanoid robots is fine, but you need to build up trust first before you can dive deeper and establish long-lasting business relations.
Bringing the technical expertise and precision made in Germany and the transformational speed of Dubai together still is a challenge, but we believe that quality and high effort always pays off at the end of the day.
From your perspective, how is the Trademark and Patent sector in the Arab world evolving, and what major trends or transformations do you anticipate in the years ahead?
There is something going on in the GCC region, especially in the UAE. Since the government modified the patent and trademark laws in 2021, there has been a high demand for filing new intellectual property rights.
As the economy is turning its efforts toward new business opportunities, there is a lot of development in technical fields such as AI-driven inventions, future mobility and humanoid robots, and we are happy to help.
What are your long-term goals as Managing Director of MGT Patent and Trademark Services, and how do you envision your continued contribution to the strategic growth of the Patent and Trademark sector across the Arab region?
There is so much potential in this region, and we want to help some of the startups become global players. International success is not a matter of luck, but is based on the same principles around the world. Protecting your ideas before anyone else does is one of them.
So the main goal is to connect the UAE to the three major economies, the US, the European Union and China, and beyond. We will pave the way by providing the best services and patents that you can really enforce globally.
We are very thankful for the opportunities the UAE has given us, and we are now growing our business step by step. We are not looking for short-term wealth, but rather for sustainable business opportunities and continuous growth.
Building a Future Around Innovation and Protection
Manuel Giesen’s perspective reflects a broader transformation taking place across the UAE and the wider GCC, where innovation, entrepreneurship and technology are increasingly shaping the region’s economic future. As businesses develop new technologies, brands and intellectual assets, protecting those assets can become an important part of their international growth strategy.
For MGT Patent and Trademark Services, the ambition goes beyond simply registering patents and trademarks. Giesen’s vision is to help innovative companies build a foundation for sustainable growth and create connections between the UAE and major international markets.
As Dubai continues to attract ambitious founders, technology companies and global entrepreneurs, the importance of intellectual property protection is likely to grow alongside the ideas and businesses emerging from the region.
UAE Times continues to spotlight the entrepreneurs, executives and innovators helping shape the next chapter of business in the UAE and beyond.
