What are the steps to register a trademark in the UAE?

Quick answer: there are six steps, all completed online with the Ministry of Economy & Tourism (MoET), taking four to six months and AED 6,500 per class in government fees.

#	Step	Fee	Time
1	Search the register for identical or similar marks (MoET inquiry AED 350 / WIPO free check)	AED 350	1 day
2	Choose the Nice class(es) and prepare documents	–	1–5 days
3	File the application on the MoET portal	AED 750	Same day
4	Examination by the Trademark Office	– (AED 2,250 for one-day examination)	1–3 months
5	Pay publication; 30-day opposition period in the Trademark Bulletin	AED 750	~6 weeks
6	Pay final registration; certificate issued	AED 5,000	~30 days

Who does each step

• UAE companies and residents can complete all six steps themselves through UAE Pass.
• Applicants outside the UAE must appoint a UAE-registered trademark agent from step 3 onward and provide a legalised power of attorney.

The one step people skip

Step 1. The AED 750 application fee is non-refundable, and a refusal after a conflict costs three months. A proper search in Arabic and English, across pending as well as registered marks, is the cheapest part of the process.

For the detailed version of each step, decisions and pitfalls, read the step-by-step guide to trademark registration in the UAE. For what to have ready before step 3: documents required. To have it done for you: trademark registration in the UAE.

What you need before step 3

• Logo file or the exact word mark.
• Nice class numbers and a goods/services list in Arabic and English.
• Trade licence (company) or passport and Emirates ID (individual).
• Power of attorney if an agent files – notarised and legalised for owners outside the UAE.

Common mistakes at each step

Step	Mistake	Result
1	Searching English only	Refusal against an Arabic-script mark
2	Choosing the class of the licence activity instead of the product	Protection for the wrong goods
3	Applicant name not matching the licence	Office action, delay
5	Missing the 30-day publication payment	AED 100/month penalty, then abandonment
6	Missing the 30-day registration payment	AED 1,000/month penalty
After	Never renewing	Mark lapses after year 10 + 6 months

Fees per stage: cost guide. Timeline per stage: how long it takes.