UAE Ministry of Economy Trademark Search & Services Portal: Complete Guide

All UAE trademark matters – search, registration, renewal, assignment, licensing, oppositions and cancellation – are handled by one federal authority: the Ministry of Economy & Tourism (MoET), previously called the Ministry of Economy (MoE / MoEc). Its Trademark Office in Abu Dhabi and Dubai runs a single register covering all seven emirates. There is no separate Dubai or Abu Dhabi trademark register.

1. Trademark search on the MoET portal

Where: MoET e-services → Trademarks → Trademark Inquiry (UAE Pass login; AED 350 per request, results returned immediately). For a free preliminary check use WIPO's Global Brand Database, which includes UAE marks, then confirm with the official inquiry before filing.

What you can search by: - Trademark name (Arabic or English – search both) - Application or registration number - Applicant / owner name - Class number

How to search properly:

1. Search the exact word mark, then common misspellings and phonetic equivalents (e.g. "Kwik" / "Quick").
2. Search the Arabic transliteration – many UAE marks are registered in Arabic only.
3. Search each class you intend to file in, plus related classes (a Class 25 clothing brand should also check Class 35 retail).
4. Check status: registered, pending, published, refused, cancelled. Pending and published marks block you just as registered ones do.
5. Note the filing dates – an earlier pending application has priority over yours.

Limits of the official inquiry: it finds identical or near-identical text, not logos that look alike or marks that are conceptually similar. For a launch or a rebrand, commission a professional clearance search that covers device marks, well-known marks and trade names. We run these within one working day – request a search.

2. Register Trademark

The online application service – AED 750 to file, AED 750 publication, AED 5,000 final registration; total AED 6,500 per class. Step-by-step in our online registration guide; documents in the checklist; costs in the fee guide.

3. Pay Publication Fee / Pay Registration Fee

Two separate services triggered after acceptance and after the opposition period. Deadlines are 30 days each; late penalties are AED 100/month and AED 1,000/month respectively.

4. Renew Registration of Trademark

Available during the 10th year of protection (AED 6,500) or in the 6-month grace period after expiry (AED 7,250). Renewal guide →

5. Other MoET trademark services

Service	Use it when
Trademark ownership transfer (assignment)	You sell the brand or restructure the group
Change of owner name or address	Company renamed or moved – do this before renewing
Recording a licence	You franchise or license the brand to a third party
Trademark cancellation	Voluntarily surrendering a mark, or applying to cancel a third party's unused mark
Objection / opposition	Opposing a published application within 30 days
Grievance against a decision	Appealing a refusal (AED 5,000)
Copy of registration / renewal certificate	Replacement or certified copy (AED 150)
Trademark agent registration	Becoming a registered agent (agents must be registered to file for others)

6. Logging in

Individuals and UAE companies log in with UAE Pass. Foreign applicants do not need an account – their registered agent files under the agent's account and uploads the legalised power of attorney.

7. Trademark Bulletin

Accepted applications, renewals, assignments and cancellations are published in the electronic Trademark Bulletin twice a month. Monitoring it is how you catch conflicting applications while opposition is still possible. About the Bulletin →

Ministry of Economy vs. Department of Economic Development

Do not confuse the MoET trademark register with the emirate-level Department of Economic Development (DED / ADDED). The DED registers trade names on business licences; MoET registers trademarks. A trade name gives no trademark rights, and a DED trade-name search is not a trademark search. See Abu Dhabi DED trade-name search vs trademark search.

Need help with the portal?

As MoET-registered trademark agents we file, pay, track and collect on the portal daily. Send us the mark and class and we will run a free preliminary search and confirm the fees the same day – contact us.