TRADEMARK APPLICATION FILING IN
United Arab Emirates

In the United Arab Emirates (UAE), trademark registrations are handled by the Ministry of Economy. The UAE has been a member of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) since September 24, 1974, and continues to build up its intellectual property framework through international cooperation and partnerships. In recent years, the Ministry of Economy has also signed agreements with WIPO to further develop and support the country’s intellectual property ecosystem.

The trademark registration can be filed only through the online portal of the Ministry of Economy and Tourism (MoET).

Multi-class applications are not allowed by the Ministry of Economy and Tourism (MoET).

The requirements for filing a trademark application are as follows:

• Name, nationality, and address of the applicant;
• Mark representation (logo/device/word, etc.);
• Descriptions of goods and/or services;
• Certified priority document*;

*If priority is being claimed, a Certified Priority Document in Arabic and English must be submitted within thirty days of filing;

• Power of Attorney*;

*An original Power of Attorney must be submitted within thirty days from the filing date. Legalisation of the documents is required up to the UAE Consulate. Local legalisation by the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs is also required which will be handled by the local agent.

The official language for trademark proceedings in the United Arab Emirates is Arabic.

The trademark registration process in the United Arab Emirates begins with the submission of an application through the digital portal of the Ministry of Economy (MoE). After the application is filed, the Ministry reviews it to ensure that all formal and legal requirements have been met. The application is then examined on the basis of grounds for refusal to determine whether the mark is eligible for protection. If the examiner raises any objections during the examination, the applicant will receive an official notification from the Ministry of Economy. The applicant is required to submit a response within 30 days from the date of notification. If no objection is raised, or if the examiner is satisfied with the applicant’s response, the trademark application proceeds to the publication stage. The application is then published for 30 days in the Official Gazette and in two local Arabic-language newspapers. During this period, any third party may file an opposition against the trademark. If no opposition is filed within the prescribed time, the application proceeds to registration, and the Ministry of Economy issues the trademark registration certificate.

The opposition proceedings commence when a third party submits a notice of opposition within the prescribed period of thirty days from the date of publication. Upon receipt of the opposition, the MoE serves a copy of the notice to the applicant. The applicant is required to file a counterstatement in response to the opposition within thirty days of notice. After the submission of counterstatement, both parties may submit evidences in support of their arguments. Thereafter, MoE will review the submissions and if necessary, they will schedule hearing. Accordingly, they will make a decision either to allow or reject the application.

A trademark registration in UAE is valid for a period of ten years. The trademark must be renewed within six months before the expiry of trademark registration.

A registered trademark must be used within the period of five consecutive years from its registration. If the trademark is not used during this period, it may be subject to cancellation if applied by any third party.

The trademark registration in UAE normally takes between four to six months in straightforward applications.

The MoET continues to enhance and promotes IP protection in UAE. In 2021, the UAE has joined the Madrid Protocol, enabling TM owners to obtain trademark rights in multiple countries and encouraged foreign applicants to establish and expand businesses in UAE. As a result, the trademark activity has grown significantly. According to WIPO statistics (2024), Madrid international applications increased by 88.3% while the total number of trademark filings rose by 19.1%, reflecting the UAE’s strengthening position in the field of IP protection.