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The standard government fee for registering a single trademark in one class totals AED 6,500, comprising application, publication, and final registration charges. Registration grants the owner exclusive rights to the mark across all seven emirates for a renewable period of 10 years from the filing date. The UAE follows the Nice Classification system comprising 45 classes. Its 2021 accession to the Madrid Protocol enables UAE-based owners to extend protection to over 130 territories through a single international application filed with MOET.
Legal Framework for Trademark Protection in the UAE
Federal Decree-Law No. (36) of 2021 on Trademarks entered into force on 2 January 2022. It replaced the former Federal Law No. (37) of 1992 and introduced a modernised regime aligned with international standards. The law is supplemented by Cabinet Decision No. (57) of 2022, which sets out the executive regulations governing application procedures, examination timelines, and agent registration requirements.
The 2021 law expanded the scope of protectable marks beyond traditional word and logo marks. Three-dimensional marks, sound marks, smell marks, colour marks, and hologram marks now qualify for registration. The law also introduced provisions for geographical indications and established clear criteria for determining well-known trademark status.
MOET, through its Trademark Office (TMO), serves as the sole federal authority responsible for examining applications, maintaining the trademark register, and administering opposition and cancellation proceedings. Businesses operating in any emirate file trademark applications through the same federal portal. This applies equally to mainland formations, free zone entities, and offshore structures.
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Key Provisions Under the 2021 Law
A single application may cover one or more classes of goods or services, though each class incurs a separate fee. The TMO examines applications within 90 days of filing to verify compliance with registrability conditions and to check for conflicts with prior registrations. Accepted marks are published in the Official Trademark Bulletin, issued twice monthly, after which a 30-day opposition period begins. If no opposition is sustained, the final registration fee must be paid within 30 days of the opposition period ending.
Trademark registration is valid for 10 years from the filing date. Renewal applications may be submitted during the tenth year of the current protection period or within a six-month grace period following expiry, subject to increased fees for late renewal. A further three-month extension may be granted where MOET accepts the justifications provided.
A registered trademark that remains unused for five consecutive years becomes vulnerable to cancellation at the request of any interested party, unless exceptional circumstances prevented its use.
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What Qualifies as a Registrable Trademark in the UAE
Under Article 2 of Federal Decree-Law No. (36) of 2021, a trademark is defined as any distinctive representation capable of identifying and distinguishing goods or services from those of other enterprises. Registrable marks include words, names, signatures, letters, numerals, figures, logos, titles, seals, pictures, patterns, packaging designs, and combinations of these elements in both traditional and non-traditional formats.
Article 3 sets out the absolute grounds for refusal. The following categories cannot be registered as a trademark or any part thereof: marks lacking distinctiveness or consisting solely of customary designations for the relevant goods or services; marks that breach public morals or public order; public emblems, flags, military decorations, and national or international symbols; marks identical or confusingly similar to a previously registered trademark for identical or similar goods or services; and marks likely to mislead the public regarding the nature, quality, or geographical origin of the goods or services.
Businesses in the process of trade licence registration should conduct a thorough clearance search before filing a trademark application to reduce the risk of refusal or opposition.
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Trademark Registration Process in the UAE
The registration process follows a defined sequence administered entirely through the MOET online portal.
Step 1 — Pre-Filing Preparation and Trademark Search
Before filing, applicants should conduct a comprehensive search of the UAE trademark register to identify potential conflicts with existing registrations. The search reduces the risk of refusal on relative grounds and helps assess the likelihood of third-party opposition during the publication stage.
Required documents for filing include a clear image of the trademark, the applicant's identification details, a list of goods or services classified according to the Nice Classification, and a power of attorney if the application is filed through a registered trademark agent. Individuals must provide a passport copy. Companies must provide a valid trade licence and memorandum of association. Foreign applicants must file through a registered agent, and the power of attorney must be notarised and translated into Arabic.
Step 2 — Application Submission
The application is submitted electronically through the MOET e-services portal. The applicant selects the relevant class or classes, uploads all supporting documents, and pays the application fee of AED 750 per class.
Step 3 — Examination by the Trademark Office
The TMO reviews the application within 90 days to verify formal compliance, assess distinctiveness, and check for similarity with prior registrations. MOET may accept the application outright, reject it, or conditionally accept it subject to modifications. If the applicant does not respond to a conditional acceptance or request for amendments within 30 days of notification, the application is deemed abandoned.
Applicants may contest a rejection by filing a grievance with the Trademark Grievance Committee within 30 days. The Committee is headed by a specialist judge and two expert members. Its binding decision may be appealed before the Federal Court of Appeal.
Step 4 — Publication in the Official Trademark Bulletin
Upon acceptance, the applicant must pay the publication fee of AED 750 per class. The trademark is then published in the Official Trademark Bulletin, which MOET issues twice monthly. Publication marks the start of the 30-day opposition window during which any interested party may object to the registration.
Step 5 — Opposition Period
Third parties with prior rights or legitimate interests may file an opposition within 30 days of the bulletin publication date. If an opposition is filed, the TMO reviews both parties' submissions before issuing a decision. Uncontested applications, or those where the opposition is dismissed, proceed to final registration.
Step 6 — Final Registration and Certificate Issuance
After the opposition period closes without a sustained objection, the applicant pays the final registration fee of AED 5,000 per class within 30 days. MOET then issues the trademark registration certificate, confirming exclusive rights for a 10-year period from the original filing date.
Under standard conditions with no objections or complications, the complete process takes approximately four to six months.
International Trademark Protection Through the Madrid Protocol
The UAE acceded to the Protocol Relating to the Madrid Agreement Concerning the International Registration of Marks on 28 September 2021, becoming the 109th member of the Madrid System. The Protocol entered into force in the UAE on 28 December 2021, enabling both inbound and outbound international trademark filings.
UAE-based trademark owners may file a single international application through MOET, designating any combination of the Madrid System's member territories for protection. The application must be based on an existing UAE trademark registration or a pending application, referred to as the "basic mark." WIPO processes the application, forwards it to designated national offices for local examination, and maintains the international register centrally.
The conversion fee from a UAE national registration to an international registration under the Madrid Protocol is AED 400 per application. WIPO charges a basic fee of 653 Swiss francs, or 903 Swiss francs for marks in colour, plus individual fees set by each designated member state.
Foreign brand owners may use the Madrid System to secure trademark protection in the UAE by designating it within an international application. This route does not require a separate national application filed directly with MOET.
Trademark Renewal in the UAE
Trademark renewal preserves the owner's exclusive rights beyond the initial 10-year registration period. The renewal process does not require fresh examination or re-publication for opposition.
Applications for renewal may be submitted during the tenth year of the current protection period. The total renewal fee, including the publication charge, is AED 6,500 per class. Where the renewal is filed within the six-month grace period after the registration expires, an increased total fee of AED 7,250 per class applies. If acceptable justifications are provided, MOET may grant a further three-month extension beyond the grace period.
Failure to renew within the prescribed timeframe results in automatic deregistration. Once deregistered, the mark cannot be re-registered by any third party for the same or similar goods or services until three years have elapsed from the date of deregistration.
Proof of use is not required for renewal. However, a mark that has not been used for five consecutive years remains subject to cancellation by any interested party under Article 24 of the law.
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Trademark Modification, Transfer, and Licensing
Registered trademarks may be modified, transferred, or licensed under defined conditions.
Trademark Modification
Non-substantive modifications may be recorded with the TMO. These include changes to the owner's name, address, or legal status. EGSH, as an authorised DLD Real Estate Registration Trustee Centre, processes trademark modification applications through the Ministry of Economy's electronic services. Changes to the trademark itself that alter its character require a new application.
Trademark Transfer and Assignment
A trademark may be assigned or transferred, with or without the associated business, to another party. The transfer must be recorded in the trademark register to be effective against third parties. Unrecorded transfers do not affect the rights of bona fide third parties who rely on the register.
Trademark Licensing
The owner of a registered trademark may licence its use to third parties. Recording a licence with the TMO is no longer mandatory under the 2021 law. However, registration provides evidentiary benefits and enforceability against third parties.
Common Grounds for Trademark Application Rejection
Understanding the grounds for refusal reduces the risk of wasted fees and procedural delays.
The TMO may reject an application on the following grounds: the mark lacks distinctiveness or consists exclusively of generic designations for the relevant goods or services; the mark conflicts with a prior registered or pending trademark; the mark contains protected emblems, flags, or governmental symbols; the mark deceives the public regarding the nature, quality, or origin of the goods or services; or the mark breaches public morals or public order.
Where an application is rejected or conditionally accepted, the applicant has 30 days from notification to respond with amendments or to file a grievance before the Trademark Grievance Committee. The Committee's decision may be appealed before the Federal Court of Appeal.
Trademark Registration and Business Licensing in Dubai
Securing a trademark before or alongside trade name reservation adds a layer of legal protection beyond the administrative protection offered by the trade name registered with the Department of Economy and Tourism (DET). A trade name registered with DET protects the business identity at the licensing level within the emirate. A federally registered trademark provides exclusive rights across all seven emirates and enables international protection through the Madrid Protocol.
Businesses across all structures are eligible to register trademarks. This includes mainland companies, free zone entities, and offshore companies. The trademark application is filed federally with MOET, independent of the licensing authority.
Aligning trademark classes with the licensed business activities ensures coherent brand protection. A company holding a commercial trade licence should register its brand in classes corresponding to its approved activities. This prevents gaps in legal coverage. Further details on the distinction between licence categories are available in the guide to commercial, professional, and industrial licences in Dubai.
EGSH Trademark Services
Emirates Government Services Hub (EGSH), an authorised DLD trustee centre, provides trademark-related services through the Ministry of Economy's electronic services platform. These services cover the full lifecycle of trademark management, from initial registration through modification, renewal, and cancellation.
Available trademark services include new applications, modification, renewal, and cancellation. Each service is processed through the official MOET channels at standard government fees.
EGSH also facilitates supporting procedures frequently required alongside trademark registration. These include trade licence registration, company formation, and commercial document attestation for foreign applicants requiring legalised powers of attorney.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to register a trademark in the UAE?
The total government fee for registering a standard trademark in one class is AED 6,500. This comprises the AED 750 application fee, AED 750 publication fee, and AED 5,000 final registration fee. Each additional class incurs a separate fee of AED 6,500. Professional agent fees, translation charges, and optional expedited examination costs are additional.
How long does trademark registration take in the UAE?
Under standard conditions with no objections or examination issues, the process takes approximately four to six months from application submission to certificate issuance. The TMO issues its examination decision within 90 days of filing, followed by publication, a 30-day opposition period, and final registration.
Can I register a trademark in the UAE without a trade licence?
Individuals may file a trademark application without holding a trade licence, provided they are UAE residents. Companies must hold a valid trade licence. Foreign applicants must file through a registered UAE trademark agent with a notarised power of attorney.
What happens if I do not renew my trademark within the prescribed period?
Failure to renew within the tenth year or the subsequent six-month grace period results in automatic deregistration. Once deregistered, the mark is protected from re-registration by third parties for a three-year period for the same or similar goods and services.
Can I register a trademark for multiple classes in a single application?
The 2021 law permits multi-class applications. However, each class incurs a separate government fee of AED 6,500 for the complete registration cycle. Multi-class filing through a single application form will become available once the TMO launches its updated e-services platform.
What is the Madrid Protocol and how does it benefit UAE-based businesses?
The Madrid Protocol is an international treaty administered by WIPO that enables trademark owners to seek protection in over 130 member territories through a single application filed with their national trademark office. UAE-based owners file through MOET and pay a conversion fee of AED 400, plus WIPO's basic fee and individual country designation fees.
What are the penalties for trademark infringement in the UAE?
Under Federal Decree-Law No. (36) of 2021, counterfeiting or imitating a registered trademark carries imprisonment and/or a fine of AED 100,000 to AED 1,000,000. Selling or possessing infringing goods carries imprisonment of up to one year and/or a fine of AED 50,000 to AED 200,000. Repeat offenders face up to double the maximum penalty.
Does trademark registration protect my brand outside the UAE?
A UAE trademark registration protects the mark only within the seven emirates. To extend protection internationally, the owner may file an international application under the Madrid Protocol through MOET, designating specific member countries for protection.
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Abdelmohsen Alyahri
Support Services
Abdelmohsen Alyahri is a professional in support services with 3 years of experience in handling government-related transactions in the UAE. He provides end-to-end assistance in completing official procedures across multiple authorities, including MOFA, the Ministry of Economy, Dubai Municipality, and the RTA, ensuring accuracy, compliance, and timely processing of documents.
Official Sources and References
The following government authorities and international organisations are referenced in this article.
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Ministry of Economy and Tourism (MOET) — Federal authority responsible for trademark registration, examination, and intellectual property regulation in the UAE.
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UAE Legislation Portal — Official repository of federal laws, decree-laws, and cabinet resolutions of the United Arab Emirates.
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World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) — United Nations agency administering the Madrid Protocol, Nice Classification, and international trademark registration systems.
Important Notice
The information in this article is accurate as of the date of publication and is provided for general guidance. Government fees, procedural requirements, and regulatory frameworks are subject to change. Final approval of all trademark applications rests with the Ministry of Economy and Tourism. Applicants are advised to verify current requirements directly with the relevant authority or through an authorised service centre before initiating any trademark-related proceedings.
