Trademark Opposition and Cancellation in the UAE: How to Object to a Trademark

Two procedures stop a conflicting trademark in the UAE: opposition, filed against an application while it is published, and cancellation, filed against a mark that is already registered. Both run before the Ministry of Economy & Tourism (MoET) and are governed by Federal Decree-Law No. 36 of 2021.

Opposition: objecting to a trademark application

Deadline. 30 days from the date the application is published in the Trademark Bulletin. The bulletin is issued twice a month; there is no extension.

Who can oppose. Any interested party – typically the owner of an earlier registered or pending mark, a well-known mark, or a trade name.

Grounds. - Identical or confusingly similar to an earlier registered or pending mark for the same or similar goods. - Conflicts with a well-known mark, even one not registered in the UAE. - Descriptive, generic or non-distinctive. - Contrary to public order or morals; contains flags, emblems or protected names. - Filed in bad faith – e.g. by a former distributor, employee or franchisee.

Procedure. 1. File the opposition online through the MoET portal with the grounds and evidence (registrations, use, reputation). 2. The applicant is notified and files a counter-statement within the legal period; failure to respond is treated as abandonment. 3. MoET may call a hearing, then issues a decision. 4. Either party can appeal to the Trademarks Grievance Committee (AED 5,000) and then to the federal courts.

Watch the bulletin. The 30-day window is easy to miss. We run a monthly watch on the bulletin for clients' marks and close variants. About the Bulletin →

Cancellation: removing a registered trademark

Grounds. - Non-use for five consecutive years without a legitimate reason – the most common ground. The owner must prove genuine use in the UAE; recorded licensee use counts. - The mark should never have been registered (same grounds as opposition). - Registered in bad faith. - Has become generic or deceptive through the way it is used.

Procedure. A cancellation application is filed with MoET (or, depending on the ground, before the competent court). The owner is notified and given the opportunity to prove use or answer the grounds. Decisions can be appealed.

Voluntary cancellation. An owner can cancel their own registration, in whole or for some goods, through the portal.

Defending your own mark

If your application is opposed or your registration is attacked:

• Respond within the deadline – silence loses the case.
• Assemble evidence of use: invoices, packaging, advertising, website captures, social media, with dates.
• Consider a coexistence agreement or a limitation of goods if the conflict is narrow.
• If the opponent's own mark is unused for five years, a counter-cancellation is often the strongest defence.

Fees and timing

Action	Official fee	Typical time
Opposition	MoET service fee (ask for current amount)	6–12 months to decision
Grievance against MoET decision	AED 5,000	3–6 months
Cancellation for non-use	MoET service fee / court fees	6–18 months

Professional fees depend on the volume of evidence; we quote a fixed fee for straightforward oppositions.

Frequently asked questions

Can I oppose a trademark if I only have a trade name? Yes, if you can show earlier use and a likelihood of confusion, but an earlier trademark registration is far stronger. Register your brand →

What happens if the applicant does not reply to my opposition? The application is treated as abandoned.

I missed the 30-day opposition window – what now? Wait for registration, then file a cancellation action, or negotiate.

Does opposition stop the applicant using the mark? No. Use is only stopped by an infringement action or a court order. Infringement complaints →

Found a conflicting mark? Send us the bulletin reference or registration number and we will confirm the deadline and options the same day – contact us.