🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates · Trademark & IP
Trademark registration, patents, copyright, official IP offices, and filing costs.
Quick answer
UAE trademarks are registered with the Ministry of Economy. You search the register, file an application under Nice classes, and after examination it is published (in the Trademark Bulletin and newspapers) for a 30-day opposition period. A UAE trademark lasts 10 years and is renewable; the UAE has joined the Madrid Protocol, easing international filing.
Trademarks, patents and copyright are administered federally by the Ministry of Economy.
- Trademarks and patents are filed with the Ministry of Economy.
- A registered trademark gives exclusive rights across the UAE.
- International protection can be extended via WIPO's Madrid (trademarks) and PCT (patents) systems.
Step-by-step
- 1
Search the register
Search the Ministry of Economy trademark register for conflicting marks in the relevant classes before applying.
- 2
File the application
File with the Ministry of Economy, describing the mark and classifying the goods/services under the Nice Classification (one class per application).
- 3
Examination and publication
The Ministry examines the application and, if accepted, publishes it in the Trademark Bulletin (and local newspapers) for a 30-day opposition period.
- 4
Registration and renewal
Once registered, a UAE trademark lasts 10 years from filing and can be renewed indefinitely for further 10-year terms.
- 5
Cover patents and copyright
Protect inventions with patents and creative works with copyright, both administered by the Ministry of Economy; copyright registration is available.
- 6
Enforce and go international
Enforce your rights against infringers and use the Madrid Protocol (which the UAE has joined) to extend protection abroad.
Checklist
- Ministry of Economy register search
- Application (Nice classes, one per filing)
- Examination + 30-day opposition
- Registration (10 years) + renewal
- Patents + copyright (Ministry of Economy)
- Enforcement strategy
- Madrid Protocol (UAE is a member)
- Customs recordal against counterfeits
Official authorities
- Ministry of Economy — Intellectual Property
Trademarks, patents and copyright.
Frequently asked questions
How long does a UAE trademark last?
Ten years from the filing date, renewable indefinitely for further 10-year periods.
Can I file internationally from the UAE?
Yes — the UAE is a member of the Madrid Protocol, so you can extend protection to many countries from a UAE base application.
Do I file one class or several?
The UAE files one class per application, so protecting a mark across several classes means several applications.
Official-information aggregation, not legal advice. Always verify on the authority's own site.
Government portals
- The UAE Government Portal — Official UAE government portal — services, visas, residency
- Federal Authority for Identity & Citizenship (ICP) — Entry permits, residence visas, Golden Visa, Emirates ID
- Federal Tax Authority (FTA) — VAT and corporate-tax registration and filing
- Ministry of Economy — Company registration, business licensing, foreign investment