Filing intellectual property in the United Arab Emirates
The UAE has high official fees and a mandatory publication step, but a clean, comparatively quick examination once the paperwork is legalised.
- Office
- UAE Ministry of Economy
- Language
- Arabic (English filings must be accompanied by Arabic translations)
- Local currency
- AED
- Opposition
- 30 days from the date of publication
- Term
- 10 Gregorian years from the filing date
- Renewal
- Every 10 years, with a 3-month grace period
Fees & timelines by right
| Right | Official fee | Our fee | All-in | Timeline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Trade Mark / Brand Name | $1,360 | $490 | $1,850 | 9–14 months |
| Service Mark | $1,360 | $490 | $1,850 | 9–14 months |
| Trade Name / Business Name | $280 | $290 | $570 | 1–2 weeks |
| Patent | $820 | $1,650 | $2,470 | 24–48 months |
| Utility Model / Petty Patent | $400 | $890 | $1,290 | 12–24 months |
| Copyright | $110 | $190 | $300 | 2–5 months |
| Industrial Design | $430 | $590 | $1,020 | 10–18 months |
| Geographical Indication & Collective Marks | $400 | $690 | $1,090 | 12–20 months |
| Trade Secret & Confidentiality Programme | $0 | $690 | $690 | 2–4 weeks to implement |
Indicative single-class / single-application rates in USD. Your live quote confirms the exact amount before payment.
Who can file & on what basis
- Direct national application with the Ministry of Economy
- Madrid Protocol designation of the UAE
- Convention priority within 6 months
Local agent: Mandatory — only UAE-registered agents may file.
What we need from you
Requirements
- UAE-registered trademark agent
- Notarised and legalised Power of Attorney
- Trade licence or certificate of incorporation of the applicant
- Single-class-per-application rule; alcohol and certain goods are barred
Documents
- Power of Attorney, notarised and legalised up to the UAE embassy / MOFA
- Copy of the applicant's commercial licence
- Logo file and Arabic transliteration of the mark
- Priority document, legalised, where applicable
Affidavits, resolutions & authorities
Executed papers this office expects — who signs them, how they must be witnessed, notarised or legalised, and the deadline for lodging them.
Power of Attorney — notarised & legalised
POA in Arabic/English signed by an authorised signatory, notarised in the home country, attested by the foreign ministry and legalised by the UAE embassy, then attested by UAE MOFA.
- Execution:
- Notarised, attested by MOFA and legalised at the consulate
- When:
- Within 30 days of filing (extensions are discretionary)
- Applies to:
- All IP types
Trade licence / certificate of incorporation (legalised)
Extract showing the legal name, address and activity of the applicant. Foreign entities must legalise; UAE entities supply a current trade licence copy.
- Execution:
- Notarised, attested by MOFA and legalised at the consulate
- When:
- With the application
- Applies to:
- All IP types
Passport / Emirates ID copy of the signatory
Identity of the person signing the POA and forms.
- Execution:
- Signed by the applicant (scan accepted)
- When:
- With the application
- Applies to:
- All IP types
Legal translation into Arabic
Goods/services lists, specifications and any supporting document must be translated by a UAE-licensed legal translator.
- Execution:
- Signed by the applicant (scan accepted)
- When:
- Before filing
- Applies to:
- All IP types
Deed of assignment (legalised) where ownership has moved
Assignments, mergers and name changes must be legalised the same way as the POA before the registry will record them.
- Execution:
- Notarised, attested by MOFA and legalised at the consulate
- When:
- Before recordal
- Applies to:
- All IP types
Formality requirements change and are applied at each registry's discretion. This checklist is preparation guidance, not legal advice — your appointed local agent confirms the final list before filing.
How the filing runs
- 1
Clearance
Availability check with the Ministry of Economy register.
- 2
Filing
Filed by the UAE agent, one class per application.
- 3
Examination
Decision typically within 1–3 months of filing.
- 4
Publication
Publication in the Ministry bulletin and two local Arabic newspapers.
- 5
Registration
Registration fee paid within the statutory window after the opposition period closes.
Use, renewal & status tracking
Use requirement
A registration may be cancelled after 5 continuous years of non-use.
Registry status sync
No public API. Status is confirmed by our UAE agent and recorded with evidence in the audit trail.
Common pitfalls
- Legalisation of the Power of Attorney takes weeks — start it before filing
- One class per application makes multi-class portfolios costly
- Missing the registration-fee deadline voids an otherwise accepted mark
Ready to file in United Arab Emirates?
Run a free name check first, or start a filing with a fixed quote.
This guide is general information about United Arab Emirates procedure, not legal advice. Official source: https://www.moec.gov.ae