A trademark is the only thing standing between your brand and a copycat distributor in Sharjah selling a near-identical bottle. The UAE Ministry of Economy registry is among the better-run in the region — and as of this year, the standard examination window has been cut from 90 days to 60. Here's how the process actually runs.
Step 1 — Confirm what you're protecting
A UAE trademark can be a name, a logo, a stylised wordmark, a slogan, a 3D shape, a colour, or a sound. Most of our filings cover two:
- Wordmark — the name itself, regardless of font. Strongest legal protection.
- Logo / device mark — the visual mark in its specific composition.
If you have both, file both. They are separate registrations, but examination runs in parallel.
Step 2 — Pick the Nice classes that matter
The UAE follows the Nice Classification (45 classes — 34 for goods, 11 for services). Each class is a separate registration with its own fee. Common combinations:
| Business | Typical classes |
|---|---|
| Restaurant / café | 43 (food services), 30 (coffee/baked goods) |
| Apparel brand | 25 (clothing), 35 (retail services) |
| SaaS / tech | 9 (software), 42 (SaaS / IT services) |
| Cosmetics | 3 (cosmetics), 5 (medicinal preparations), 35 (retail) |
Step 3 — Search before you file
The Ministry of Economy operates a public search portal. Before paying the AED 6,700 government fee per class, run a clearance search for identical and similar marks in the same class. Most rejections come from prior similar marks — and the fee is non-refundable.
Step 4 — File the application
You'll need: the mark in JPG/PNG (300 DPI), a power of attorney notarised and legalised if filing through an agent, the applicant's trade licence (or passport for individuals), and a list of goods/services to cover.
The application is filed online through the Ministry of Economy portal. Filing fee is AED 750 per class.
Step 5 — Examination (60 days)
The examiner reviews on absolute grounds (descriptive, generic, scandalous, deceptive) and relative grounds (conflict with prior marks). Outcomes:
- Accepted — moves to publication.
- Conditional acceptance — examiner asks you to disclaim a generic word, or narrow the goods description.
- Refused — you have 30 days to file a written response or appeal.
Step 6 — Publication and opposition
Once accepted, the mark is published in two Arabic newspapers and the Ministry's official gazette. Third parties have 30 days to oppose. Most marks pass this stage uncontested.
Step 7 — Registration and certificate
After the opposition window closes, pay the AED 5,000 registration fee. The Ministry issues the certificate within 2 — 3 weeks. Your protection is now valid for 10 years and renewable indefinitely.
Total cost & timeline
| Stage | Cost (AED) | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Clearance search (optional) | 950 | 2 — 3 days |
| Filing fee | 750 | Immediate |
| Examination | — | 60 days |
| Publication (newspapers + gazette) | ~1,200 | 30 days opposition |
| Registration certificate | 5,000 | 2 — 3 weeks |
| DMC professional fee | 2,500 / class | — |
| All-in per class | ≈ 10,400 | ≈ 4 — 5 months |
What about international protection?
The UAE acceded to the Madrid Protocol in 2021. Once you have a UAE registration (or pending application), you can file a single international application designating any of the 110+ Madrid member states for a fraction of filing in each separately.
The single biggest mistake first-time founders make is treating the trademark as something to do "later." By then, someone else has filed a near-identical mark and you're negotiating with a stranger over your own name.