The UAE is establishing a lab within Dubai Media City aimed at identifying and blocking websites that infringe on intellectual property rights and creative works. A memorandum of understanding (MoU) has been executed between the UAE’s Ministry of Economy and the Spanish National Professional Football League, known as 'La Liga,' to tackle the unauthorized use of audio-visual content on digital platforms. This initiative is in partnership with the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority and the Digital Government (TDRA). The Anti-Piracy Lab, modeled after La Liga’s facility in Madrid, is slated for completion in three years. It will employ advanced technological and digital tools to detect, analyze, and eliminate illegally utilized audiovisual content. Dubai was selected due to its cooperative approach with government entities in developing policies that foster creative industries and protect intellectual property rights. Under Federal Law No. 38 of 2021 concerning Copyrights and Neighbouring Rights, any original work in literature, arts, or science is considered an intellectual work, and its authors are protected if their rights are infringed upon in the UAE. The UAE has been proactive in combating intellectual property violations, as evidenced by the 'InstaBlock' initiative, which blocked 1,117 websites infringing on creative content during Ramadan 2024, a significant increase from 62 sites in Ramadan 2023. Abdullah bin Ahmed Al Saleh, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Economy, highlighted the UAE’s adaptable and competitive legislative framework, aiming to establish mechanisms for blocking websites that violate intellectual property rights, in line with global best practices. This agreement also strengthens the UAE’s collaborative efforts in combating intellectual property infringements and supports global initiatives in this domain. The new project will enhance the Ministry’s 'InstaBlock' initiative, launched in February as part of its new intellectual property system initiatives. Javier Tebas, president of La Liga, emphasized the historic nature of this agreement, noting the significant threat to intellectual property in the sports industry and the UAE’s pioneering role in combating piracy through technology. Abdullah Balhoul, CEO of Tecom Group, underscored the importance of intellectual property protection in advancing a knowledge-based economy.