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Trademark registration in the UAE

A trademark is a name, logo or other sign that distinguishes your goods or services. In the UAE it is registered with the Ministry of Economy and Tourism under Federal Decree-Law No. 36 of 2021, and protection lasts 10 years and can be renewed. Any business that has built a name worth copying should register it.

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At a glance Fact sheet

Authority
Ministry of Economy and Tourism (formerly the Ministry of Economy)
Law
Federal Decree-Law No. 36 of 2021 on Trademarks
Protection period
10 years, renewable for further periods of 10 years
Renewal window
During the final year of protection, or up to 6 months after it ends
Who can apply
Companies, establishments and individuals. Owners abroad apply through a registered agent
Where it protects
In the UAE. Other countries need separate or international filings

Overview

The name on your trade licence tells the authorities who you are. It does not give you ownership of that name as a brand. Another business can use a similar name or logo on similar products, and without a registered trademark it is much harder to stop them. Registration turns your brand into a legal right that you can enforce, franchise or sell.

Trademarks in the UAE are registered at federal level by the Ministry of Economy and Tourism. A mark is registered for particular classes of goods and services, so a restaurant, a clothing line and a software product are filed differently. The ministry examines each application to make sure the mark is not identical or similar to one that is already registered or applied for.

Once accepted, the mark is published in the official trademark bulletin and other parties get a period in which to object. When that period ends without a successful objection, the final fee is paid and the registration certificate is issued. Caliph prepares the application, coordinates the filing and tracks each stage until the certificate is in your file.

Why register your trademark with Caliph's help

A search before you commit

We check the ministry's records for identical and similar marks first. If the name is at risk, you find out before the logo is printed on everything.

Classes chosen for how you trade

The protection you get depends on the goods and services listed. We match the classes to what you sell now and what you plan to add.

A file the examiner can work with

The image of the mark, the licence copy and the power of attorney are prepared in the form the ministry asks for, which reduces queries during examination.

Deadlines followed for you

Publication, the objection period and the final registration step each come with a deadline. We track them so the application does not lapse.

Renewal on your calendar

Protection runs for 10 years. We record the date and contact you in the final year, when renewal can be filed.

What we need for the application

  • The mark itself: the word, or the logo as a clear image file
  • A list of the goods or services you sell under the mark
  • A copy of the trade licence if the applicant is a company or establishment
  • A passport copy of the owner or the authorised signatory
  • A power of attorney if an agent files the application on your behalf
  • For owners outside the UAE, a notarised and attested power of attorney with a legal translation into Arabic
  • The priority document, if you have already filed the same mark in another country and want to claim that date

Collective marks, quality marks and marks for some regulated products need extra documents. Your Caliph consultant confirms what applies to your mark.

How trademark registration works

  1. Search

    We check whether an identical or similar mark is already registered or pending for your kind of goods or services.

  2. Classes

    You confirm what the mark will be used for, and we select the classes and the wording that cover it.

  3. Application

    The application is filed with the Ministry of Economy and Tourism through its online service, with the supporting documents.

  4. Examination

    The ministry reviews the mark and notifies its decision. If the application is refused, the decision can be appealed.

  5. Publication

    An accepted mark is published in the official trademark bulletin, which opens the period for others to object.

  6. Registration

    When the objection period ends without a successful objection, the final fee is paid and the registration certificate is issued.

  7. Renewal

    The registration is renewed for a further 10 years within the window set by the ministry.

Good to know

  • A UAE registration protects the mark in the UAE. Holders of a UAE application or registration can request international registration under the Madrid Protocol through the ministry.
  • Reserving a trade name with a licensing authority, buying a domain name or opening a social media account does not create trademark rights.
  • Use the mark as it was registered. If you redesign the logo in a way that changes it noticeably, ask whether a new application is needed.

Questions people ask

How long does trademark protection last in the UAE?

Protection lasts 10 years and can be renewed for further periods of 10 years. According to the Ministry of Economy and Tourism, renewal is filed during the final year of the protection period, and it can still be filed up to 6 months after the period ends. Caliph keeps the date on your renewal schedule.

Can an individual register a trademark, or only a company?

Both can. The ministry accepts applications from companies, establishments and individuals. A company applies with its trade licence. An owner who is outside the UAE must apply through a registered agent, using a notarised power of attorney that has been attested and legally translated.

What happens if someone objects to my trademark?

After publication, other parties have a set period in which to file an objection with the ministry. If one is filed, you have the opportunity to respond and the ministry decides. Your consultant explains the objection and your options, and brings in legal support where the matter needs it.

Does a UAE trademark protect my brand in other countries?

No. Trademark rights are territorial, so a UAE registration covers the UAE. For other markets you file in each country or use the Madrid Protocol, which lets the holder of a UAE application or registration request protection in other member countries through one international application.

Should I register the name, the logo or both?

They protect different things. A word mark covers the name itself. A logo mark covers the specific design. Many businesses file both, starting with the name if the budget allows only one. Your consultant looks at how you use the brand before recommending what to file.

Is my trade name protected because it is on my licence?

The licence reserves the name with the licensing authority that issued it. It is not a trademark registration. To stop others using the name, or a similar one, on competing goods or services, register it as a trademark with the Ministry of Economy and Tourism.

Official sources

Reviewed by Caliph Business Solutions on . Rules differ by activity and by authority. Your Caliph consultant confirms what applies to you.

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