Trademark registration in the UAE

Registering a trademark in the UAE gives you the exclusive right to your brand name, logo or slogan across all seven emirates for ten years, renewable forever. The whole process runs online through the Ministry of Economy & Tourism (MoET), costs AED 6,500 per class in government fees and takes four to six months. This page explains every step; our registered agents can handle all of it for you.

How trademark registration works in the UAE

The UAE is a first-to-file country: rights belong to whoever files first, not whoever used the brand first. That makes speed matter, and a search before filing essential.

1. Search the register. Check the MoET register for identical and similar marks in your class (official inquiry AED 350; free preliminary check on WIPO's Global Brand Database). The application fee is not refundable, so this step saves money. How to search →
2. Choose your class(es). The UAE uses the Nice Classification (13th edition from 27 January 2026) and requires one application per class. All 45 classes explained →
3. File online and pay AED 750. Upload the mark, the goods/services list in Arabic and English, your licence or ID and, for foreign applicants, a legalised power of attorney. Documents checklist →
4. Examination (1–3 months). MoET checks for conflicts and absolute grounds. Need it faster? A one-day examination costs AED 2,250 extra.
5. Publication and 30-day opposition. Pay AED 750 within 30 days of acceptance; the mark appears in the Trademark Bulletin and third parties may oppose for 30 days. About the Bulletin →
6. Final registration and certificate. Pay AED 5,000 within 30 days after the opposition period; the electronic certificate is issued within about a month.

Step-by-step detail: how to register a trademark online in the UAE and how long each stage takes.

Trademark registration cost in the UAE (2026)

Stage	Official fee	When
Application & examination	AED 750	On filing
Publication in the Trademark Bulletin	AED 750	After acceptance
Final registration & certificate	AED 5,000	After the opposition period
Total per class	AED 6,500

Companies in the National Programme for SMEs pay 50% less. Late payments attract penalties of AED 100/month (publication) and AED 1,000/month (registration). Renewal after ten years costs AED 6,500 on time or AED 7,250 in the six-month grace period.

These are government fees only; our professional fee is fixed and quoted upfront. Full breakdown, worked examples and agent fees: trademark registration cost in the UAE.

Documents you need

• The trademark (logo file or exact word mark)
• Class number and list of goods or services
• Trade licence (companies) or passport and Emirates ID (individuals)
• Notarised and legalised power of attorney if you file through an agent — mandatory for applicants outside the UAE
• Certified copy of an earlier foreign application if claiming priority (within 6 months)

Details for each applicant type: documents required for UAE trademark registration.

Who can apply

UAE-licensed companies and UAE residents can file themselves through UAE Pass. Foreign companies and individuals must file through a UAE-registered trademark agent. Most local applicants also use an agent for the Arabic specification, office actions and opposition monitoring.

Why register with a UAE-registered trademark agent

• Registered with MoET. Our MoET-registered agents have filed and defended UAE trademarks since 2009 and act as court-appointed trademark experts.
• Fixed fees, no surprises. One professional fee covers the search, filing, all follow-up with MoET and certificate collection.
• We watch the deadlines. Publication and registration payments, opposition windows and the ten-year renewal are tracked for every mark we file.
• Beyond registration. Oppositions and infringement complaints, renewals, assignments, licensing and international extension through the Madrid Protocol.

Send us your brand name for a free preliminary search and a same-day quote →

Registering in a specific emirate

Trademarks are federal, but licences, inspections and courts are local. See our guides to trademark registration in Dubai and trademark registration in Abu Dhabi, and what brand registration does and doesn't cover. After registration, trademark maintenance, licensing and opposition or cancellation keep the mark enforceable. Full details of what our trademark registration service includes.

More guides: trademark registration in Sharjah, logo registration, how to check a trademark, power of attorney requirements, assignment, enforcement, monitoring, copyright vs trademark, and choosing an agent or attorney. بالعربية: رسوم تسجيل علامة تجارية في الإمارات.

Guides by class and industry

Class 35 – retail & e-commerce · Class 25 – fashion · Class 43 – restaurants & hotels · Class 41 – education & events · Classes 9 & 42 – software & tech · Classes 3 & 44 – beauty & clinics · Class 36 – real estate & finance · Classes 29, 30, 32 – food & drink

E-commerce & Amazon/noon sellers · Startups · Individuals · Free-zone companies · Trade name vs trademark · ™ and ® symbols · Arabic trademarks · Well-known marks · GCC registration · Trademark search in Dubai · 10 registration mistakes · Infringement penalties

Choosing a provider: directory of trademark firms in the UAE · best trademark registration company in the UAE · affordable registration · fast-track registration · corporate brand protection.

For trademark firms: IPBases – trademark management software.

All official government services and fees: official UAE trademark links.

UAE trademark law in brief

Trademarks are governed by Federal Decree-Law No. 36 of 2021. Words, logos, colours, shapes, sounds and smells can be registered; descriptive terms, flags, emblems and marks contrary to public order cannot. Protection lasts ten years from filing, marks unused for five consecutive years can be cancelled, and infringement carries criminal penalties as well as civil damages. A trade name on your licence is not a trademark — a competitor can still register it unless you do.

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to register a trademark in the UAE? AED 6,500 per class in government fees (750 + 750 + 5,000), plus any agent fee. SMEs in the national programme pay AED 3,250.

How long does it take? Typically 4–6 months from filing to certificate if no opposition is filed. The one-day examination shortens the first stage from up to three months to one day.

Can a foreign company register a trademark in the UAE? Yes, but only through a UAE-registered trademark agent, with a notarised and legalised power of attorney.

Does a Dubai trademark cover the whole UAE? There is no separate Dubai or Abu Dhabi trademark. One MoET registration covers all seven emirates, including free zones.

Can I register a trademark online? Yes — the entire process is online on the MoET portal. There is no paper filing.

What if someone is already using my brand? If they have not registered it, file now; the UAE is first-to-file. If they have, we can assess opposition or cancellation options.