Trademark Registration in the UAE

A trademark is your business’s unique signature in the marketplace. It’s the distinct mark that helps customers instantly recognize your products or services and sets them apart from others. This recognition builds trust and loyalty, key pillars of any successful business.

Under UAE Federal Decree-Law No. 36 of 2021, a trademark is defined as any distinct form of names, words, signatures, letters, figures, graphics, logos, titles, seals, pictures, patterns, or any other combination of marks used to distinguish goods or services. This legal protection turns your brand name or logo from a simple idea into a legally owned asset.

What Can You Register as a Trademark?

You can apply for Trademark Registration UAE for a wide variety of brand elements, including:

• Word Marks: This includes your business name, a product name, or a distinctive slogan. Famous examples include the names "Google" or "Nike".
• Logos and Designs: These are the visual symbols of your brand, like the Apple logo or the Mercedes-Benz star.
• Combination Marks: This is a very common type of trademark that combines a word mark with a design or logo.
• 3D Shapes: The unique shape of a product or its packaging can be trademarked if it is distinctive enough, such as the shape of a Toblerone chocolate bar or a Coca-Cola bottle.
• Sounds: A distinctive jingle or a specific sound that is strongly associated with your brand can be registered as a sound mark.
• Colors: A specific color or a combination of colors can be trademarked if it has become a unique identifier for your brand in the public mind.

The Trademark Registration extends far beyond simple protection, forming a critical foundation for growth, value creation, and market stability.

• Gaining Exclusive Legal Rights

When you register your trademark, you are granted the exclusive legal right to use that mark for the goods or services you specified across all seven emirates of the UAE. This registration acts as a legal presumption of ownership, which means that in any dispute, the burden of proof is on the other party to challenge your right. It is the equivalent of a property deed for your brand identity.

• Building a Strong, Trustworthy Brand

In a competitive market, trust is everything. A registered trademark, identifiable by the symbol, signals to customers that your brand is legitimate, established, and authentic. It assures them of the quality and reliability associated with your name, helping them distinguish your genuine products from fakes or lower-quality imitations. This builds customer confidence and fosters long-term brand loyalty.

• Protecting Your Business from Copycats

Perhaps the most immediate benefit of Trademark Registration is the power it gives you to defend your brand. Registration provides the legal standing to prevent competitors from using an identical or confusingly similar mark. If infringement occurs, you can take legal action, file complaints with the authorities, seek financial damages for any losses, and obtain court injunctions to stop the unauthorized use immediately.

• Increasing Your Business's Financial Value

A registered trademark is a valuable intangible asset that significantly increases the net worth of your business. This asset can be bought, sold, licensed to others, or used as the basis for a franchise model, creating powerful new revenue streams.

Furthermore, a strong, protected brand can be used as collateral to secure financing from banks and attract investors who see the value in a secure and well-managed brand portfolio.

• A Foundation for Business Expansion

If your ambitions extend beyond the UAE, a domestic Trademark Registration UAE is the perfect launchpad. It serves as a priority right when you decide to file for protection in other countries.

The UAE's accession to the Madrid Protocol for the International Registration of Marks makes it easier and more cost-effective to seek protection in over 120 member countries, using your UAE registration as the foundation.

The UAE's trademark law is designed to be inclusive, allowing a wide range of individuals and entities to protect their brands. The eligibility criteria are clearly defined, ensuring that both local and international business interests can be secured.

Individuals (UAE Citizens and Residents)

• Any UAE citizen or natural person who is practicing a commercial, industrial, professional, or service-related business can file

UAE-Based Companies

• Any "artificial person," which is the legal term for a company or establishment, that is based in the UAE and engaged in business activities

Foreign Individuals and Companies

• The UAE welcomes foreign investment and extends trademark protection to individuals and companies based outside the country.

Navigating the administrative landscape for Trademark Registration of intellectual property in the UAE is straightforward because the system is centralized under a single federal body.

• The Ministry of Economy (MoE) is the sole government authority responsible for overseeing all aspects of trademark law in the UAE. This includes examining applications, granting registrations, managing renewals, and handling disputes.
• The entire Trademark Registration online process is managed through the MoE's official e-services portal. This digital platform helps applicants file new applications, pay fees, and track registration status. It also allows them to renew marks, update ownership, and file infringement complaints.

Federal Coverage Across the UAE

• One of the most significant advantages of the UAE's system is its federal nature. A single Trademark Registration in the UAE filed with and approved by the Ministry of Economy provides comprehensive legal protection across all seven emirates: Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain, Ras Al Khaimah, and Fujairah.
• This unified system eliminates the need to file separate applications in each emirate, saving businesses considerable time, effort, and expense. It ensures that your brand is protected uniformly throughout the entire country with one certificate.

In the UAE, trademark rights are granted on a “first-to-file” basis. This means the first person to register a trademark holds the legal ownership, even if someone else used it earlier. If your trademark is similar to an existing one, your application may be rejected, and the fee is non-refundable.

Worse, using an already registered name without checking could lead to legal issues, business suspension, or forced rebranding. A simple trademark search upfront can help you avoid costly mistakes and protect your brand from the start.

How to Check if Your Trademark is Available?

A comprehensive clearance involves looking for more than just exact matches. The main types of searches include:

• Identical Search: This is a basic search to see if the same name or logo is already registered. You can perform this search through the Ministry of Economy's official Trademark Search Portal (trademarks.economy.ae).
• Similarity Search: This is a more in-depth search that looks for phonetically similar marks (sound alike), visually similar (look alike), or conceptually similar (have a similar meaning or create a similar impression).

Using the Ministry of Economy's Portal for a Trademark Registration Check

The Ministry of Economy provides an official online service to help you check Trademark Registration availability. You can use the "Trademarks Inquiry" service on their e-portal to conduct a search of the official database.

The trademark search on the Ministry’s portal is free of charge. However, professional service providers may charge AED 350–500 for conducting an in-depth identical and similarity search, providing expert analysis, and ensuring your application has a better chance of approval.

The UAE’s Trademark Registration process is a structured, multi-stage journey managed by the Ministry of Economy. While it requires careful attention to detail, understanding the steps involved can demystify the process and set clear expectations.

Step 1: Filing the Application for Trademark Registration

The journey begins on the Ministry of Economy's e-services portal (services.economy.ae). You must complete the online Trademark Registration form, providing all the necessary details about the applicant (you or your company) and the trademark itself. At this stage, you will need to upload all the required documents and pay the initial application fee to officially submit your request.

Step 2: Examination by the Ministry

Once your application is submitted, a trademark examiner at the MoE will conduct a thorough review. This examination has two parts:

1. Formal Examination: The examiner checks if your application is complete and all necessary documents have been submitted correctly.
2. Substantive Examination: The examiner assesses whether your mark meets the legal requirements for registration. They will check if it is distinctive and, most importantly, if it conflicts with any prior registered or pending trademarks. This review process typically takes between 30 and 90 days.

Step 3: Approval and Publication

If the examiner finds no issues and approves your application, you will receive a notification of acceptance. You must then pay the publication fees.

Key Update: The Ministry now publishes the accepted trademark only digitally in its Official Trademark Bulletin. Publication in local newspapers is no longer required 

Once published, there’s a 30-day window for third parties to raise any objections. If no objections arise, or if any are successfully resolved, you move on to complete the final steps and obtain your trademark certificate.

Step 4: The 30-Day Opposition Period

The publication of your trademark kicks off a mandatory 30-day opposition period. During this window, any third party who believes your trademark infringes upon their existing rights can file a formal objection with the Ministry of Economy. If an opposition is filed, the registration process is paused until the dispute is resolved. If the 30 days pass without any objections, you are clear to proceed to the final step.

Step 5: Final Registration and Certificate

After the opposition period concludes successfully, you must pay the final registration fees within 30 days. Once this payment is processed, the Ministry of Economy will issue the official Trademark Registration Certificate. This document is your proof of ownership and will include your unique registration number, the details of your mark, your name and address as the owner, and the list of goods or services it protects.

Secure your brand the smart Way. Let SafeLedger handle your Trademark Registration from start to finish. Get expert help, avoid rejections, and protect what’s uniquely yours.

The Trademark Registration requirements vary slightly depending on whether the applicant is an individual or a company.

Documents for Individuals (Natural Persons)

If you are applying as an individual entrepreneur or sole proprietor, you will generally need to provide:

• A clear copy of your Passport and/or Emirates ID.
• A detailed description of the goods and services for which you are seeking protection.
• A high-resolution digital copy of your trademark (logo or design) in JPEG format.
• Your full name, nationality, and address.

Documents for Companies (Legal Persons)

For companies applying for Trademark Registration, the list of required documents is more extensive:

• A copy of the company's valid Trade License.
• A clear copy of the Passport, Visa, and Emirates ID of the company's authorized signatory.
• A high-resolution digital copy of the trademark and a list of the relevant goods or services.
• Power of Attorney (POA): This is a critical document if you are using a trademark agent or law firm to file on your behalf, which is mandatory for foreign applicants. The POA must be properly prepared:
  • For UAE-based companies, it must be notarized by a UAE Notary Public.
  • For foreign companies, it must be legalized up to the UAE Consulate in the applicant's home country and then attested by the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

For any business owner, understanding the financial and time commitment is crucial for planning. The cost of Trademark Registration in UAE is transparent and paid in stages, while the timeline is relatively efficient, provided there are no complications.

Getting your trademark certificate is just the beginning. To keep your rights protected, you must actively use the mark and renew it on time.

How Long Does Your Trademark Protection Last?

A registered trademark in the UAE is protected for a period of 10 years, calculated from the original filing date of the application. This protection can be extended indefinitely through renewals for subsequent 10-year periods, allowing your brand to be protected for as long as you are in business.

However, registration comes with a condition of use. You must actively use your trademark in commerce in the UAE. If a registered trademark is not used for five consecutive years, any interested third party can file a cancellation action with the court to have your mark removed from the register on the grounds of non-use.

The Trademark Renewal Process: How to Do it?

The process for renewing your trademark is simpler and faster than the initial registration.

• When to Renew: You can file a renewal application at any time during the final year of the 10-year protection period.
• How to Renew: The renewal application is submitted online through the Ministry of Economy's e-services portal.
• Grace Period: If you miss the deadline, the law provides a six-month grace period after the expiry date during which you can still renew your trademark. However, renewing during this grace period will incur a late payment penalty.
• Renewal Cost: The official fee for an on-time renewal is AED 6,500. If you renew during the six-month grace period, the fee increases to AED 7,250.

What Happens if You Don't Renew?

Failing to renew your trademark, even within the grace period, has severe consequences. Your registration will be permanently cancelled and your trademark will be removed from the official register. This means:

• You lose all exclusive legal rights and protection for your brand.
• Your brand becomes vulnerable, and competitors could register a similar mark, risking the goodwill you've built.

Contact Safe Ledger today and secure exclusive rights to your brand before someone else does.