Trademark registration in the UAE is an important step for businesses that want to protect their brand and prevent others from using their name, logo, or slogan. It gives you exclusive rights and helps you avoid legal issues related to brand ownership. Whether you are starting a new business in Dubai or expanding your company in the UAE, registering your trademark ensures that your brand remains safe and legally protected.
The registration process follows specific rules set by the Ministry of Economy. It includes steps like checking if your trademark is available, submitting an application, and getting final approval. Knowing how this process works can help you avoid mistakes and speed up registration.
In this guide, we will explain everything you need to know about trademark registration in Dubai, including the costs, steps, and benefits of securing your brand in a growing business market.
What Is a Trademark?
A trademark is a distinctive sign, symbol, word, phrase, logo, design, or combination of these elements a business uses to identify its products or services and differentiate them from competitors. It grants the owner exclusive rights to use the mark in connection with specific goods or services and provides legal protection against unauthorised use, imitation, or infringement.
Trademarks help establish brand identity, build consumer trust, and can be valuable intangible assets for a business. Businesses can register trademarks with government authorities to strengthen legal enforcement. They can also renew them indefinitely, provided they remain in use.
What Is a Trademark Class System?
The trademark class system is a classification method used to categorise goods and services under specific groups for trademark registration. It helps to organise and distinguish different types of products and services that can be trademarked. The system uses numbers to represent specific categories, and each class corresponds to a specific set of goods or services.
There are 45 trademark classes in total:
- Classes 1-34 cover goods (products).
- Classes 35-45 cover services.
For example:
- Class 25 covers clothing, footwear, and headgear.
- Class 35 covers services related to advertising, business management, and marketing.
This system ensures that the trademark protection is specific and relevant to the particular area of business, helping prevent conflicts between similar trademarks in different sectors.
When registering a trademark, businesses must specify the relevant class or classes based on their products or services. This helps define the scope of protection for the trademark in the market.
What is trademark registration in the UAE?
Trademark registration in the UAE is the legal procedure of safeguarding a business’s unique brand elements, such as logos, names, symbols, or slogans, by granting them exclusive ownership rights. The Ministry of Economy regulates this process and protects businesses against unauthorised usage, counterfeiting, or infringement of their intellectual property.
By completing UAE trademark registration, businesses establish their brand identity, gain a competitive edge, and enhance customer trust. This protection extends for 10 years, with an option for renewal, ensuring long-term brand security within the UAE’s jurisdiction.
Trademark Registration in UAE
Here are a few points highlighting why trademark registration is a significant part of forming a company in the UAE:
1. Ownership
Trademark registration in the UAE ensures that your investment grants you exclusive ownership of your business. This process not only confirms your brand’s credibility but also offers a cost-effective way to protect your business’s unique identity.
2. Creates Easy Identification
A logo, brand name, or company sign conveys emotional attributes and intellectual notions about the business, generating a sense of reputation for the company that allows the perceiver to classify the business solely.
3. Copyright Protection
The Dubai trademark registration office authority assures protection of your trademark with an ownership rights symbol. If any other business entity chooses any conflicting mark, there are consequences. Moreover, getting brand registration offers the authority to sue a business that may have illegally created a duplicate trademark.
4. Brand Value
A trademark-registered business accentuates the brand value of the company. Brand registration in the UAE benefits from precision on the goods and services offered by the company and positively impacts the perceived value.
Benefits of Trademark Registration in the UAE
Registering your trademark in the UAE safeguards your brand, promotes market exclusivity, and enhances customer trust, making it a crucial step for long-term business success. Below are the trademark registration UAE benefits:
1. Legal Protection
Trademark registration in the UAE provides exclusive rights to your brand name, logo, or symbol, preventing others from using it without permission.
2. Brand Recognition
It enhances your business reputation by distinguishing your products or services and building customer trust and loyalty.
3. Market Exclusivity
Registered trademarks ensure exclusive rights to your brand in the UAE, giving you a competitive edge.
4. Asset Creation
A trademark is a valuable intangible asset that can be licensed, franchised, or sold, creating additional revenue streams.
5. Business Expansion
UAE trademark registration simplifies entering international markets, as it serves as a basis for global trademark applications.
6. Legal Remedies
In case of infringement, registered trademarks allow you to take legal action and claim damages.
7. Customer Trust
A trademark signifies quality and consistency, attracting customers and improving brand loyalty.
8. Long-Term Business Growth
With protection for up to 10 years (renewable), trademark registration ensures sustainable brand development and recognition.
Who Can Submit a Trademark Application?
If a person or business wants to distinguish their goods or services through a trademark, they should register it in the UAE and the countries where they want their goods or services protected.
Not everyone employed in the UAE can register or obtain a trademark. According to Federal Law No. 37 of 1992 on Trademarks, the following parties are eligible to register their trademarks:
- People working in any economic, technological, technical, or service sector, as well as natural and artificial persons.
- Foreigners and natural and artificial people work in any sector of the economy, technology, or services.
What Can You Register as a Trademark in the UAE?
Even though a wide range of traits can identify a brand, laws determine which traits trademark protection can cover. Any label that helps distinguish one product from another, including signatures, titles, characters, seals, posters, engravings, names, and paintings, can be trademarked.
Geographical names, banknote designs, information about honorary degrees, and marks that might mislead the public or violate public order are not considered trademarkable, according to Article 3 of Federal Law No. 37 of 1992.
Even though trademark registration in the UAE is not mandatory, it will help you secure the exclusive rights to use and profit from the registered trademark.
Additionally, it would allow you to file a lawsuit in the event of infringement and safeguard the name from alleged infringers.
A few considerations exist when registering a trademark in the United Arab Emirates. One cannot trademark the following in the United Arab Emirates:
- Public moral and belief violations.
- Symbols like flags are often in the public eye.
- For instance, the Red Cross and Red Crescent symbols.
- Titles and names of third parties.
- Other well-known trademarks are directly translated.
How to Register a Trademark in the UAE
Registering a trademark in the UAE is essential for protecting your brand identity and ensuring legal ownership. Follow these steps to register your trademark in Dubai and across the UAE successfully:
Step 1: Choose a Compliant Business Name
Start by brainstorming potential names that align with the UAE’s naming regulations. The name must:
- Do not include offensive or religiously sensitive words.
- Avoid references to political entities or organisations.
- Be unique and not identical to an existing registered trademark.
Eliminate any names not meeting the UAE’s legal requirements before proceeding.
Step 2: Check Trademark Availability
Once you have a refined list of potential names, verify their availability through the Ministry of Economy’s online portal. If someone has already registered a name, you must choose an alternative to comply with UAE regulations.
Step 3: Reserve Your Trademark
Reserving your trademark is a mandatory step before obtaining a business license. Submit your application through the Department of Economic Development (DED), either online or in person. Once approved, you will receive official confirmation within a few days.
Step 4: Pay the Reservation Fees
To finalise the trademark reservation, you must pay the required fees. The standard reservation cost is AED 620, with additional charges for unique characters or regional references. Payments can be made online or at the relevant authority’s office.
Step 5: Conduct a Trademark Search
Before registering, conduct a trademark search to ensure that your chosen brand name, logo, or symbol is not already in use. Trademark consultants can assist in identifying similar or conflicting trademarks.
Step 6: Prepare the Required Documents
Submit the necessary documents to the Ministry of Economy, including:
- Trademark design/logo
- Business trade license
- Passport or Emirates ID of the applicant
Step 7: Pay the Trademark Registration Fees
Trademark registration fees are charged in multiple stages, covering various aspects of the process.
- Initial approval
- Publication in official gazettes
- Final registration and certification
Step 8: Ministry of Economy Review & Approval
The Ministry of Economy will review your application. If they find your trademark similar to an existing one or identify irregularities, they may reject it. Hiring a business consultant can help you avoid mistakes and expedite the approval process.
Step 9: Public Announcement in Newspapers
The Ministry of Economy will publish your trademark in two Arabic-language newspapers to allow for public objections. The public has 30 days to file any objections. If objections arise, you may need to revise and resubmit your application.
Step 10: Receive the Trademark Registration Certificate
If no objections arise and you meet all requirements, the Ministry will grant you a Trademark Registration Certificate, valid for 10 years. After this period, you must renew your trademark by paying the renewal fee.
By following these steps, you can legally protect your brand identity in the UAE, ensuring exclusive rights to your trademark.
Documents Required for Trademark Registration in UAE
To register a trademark in the UAE, you need to submit the following documents to the Ministry of Economy (MoE):
- Trademark Application Form
- Copy of Trade License
- Passport Copy of the Applicant
- Emirates ID Copy
- Trademark Logo or Design
- Power of Attorney (PoA)
- Priority Document
- Classification of Goods/Services
- Payment Receipt
Cost of Trademark Registration in UAE
After you’ve completed your application, you’ll need to pay the necessary fees for trademark registration in the UAE. To register a trademark or brand in the UAE, applicants must pay AED 10,500. This UAE trademark registration cost does not include legal or translation expenses.
Candidates can pay the trademark registration UAE cost on the Ministry of Economy’s website. The Ministry of Economy will review your request for trademark registration in Dubai. When filling out the application, you must be careful and precise since any missing or incorrect information can result in rejection of your application.
However, applicants can challenge or revise their applications as needed if this occurs. The Ministry of Economy provides trademark registration approval within 30 days when all your submissions are as expected.
How to get a trademark certificate
To obtain a trademark certificate, you first need to conduct a trademark search to ensure your desired name or logo is available. Once confirmed, prepare your application by gathering necessary details such as a clear logo, a description of goods or services, and business information.
Submit the application through the relevant trademark authority, such as the Ministry of Economy in the UAE, and pay the required fees. The authority then examines the application, and if no objections arise, publishes it in an official gazette for public opposition.
If no one files opposition within the typical 30-day timeframe, authorities approve the trademark. Upon approval, you receive an official trademark certificate, granting you exclusive rights for 10 years, with the option for renewal.
What is trademark registration validity in the UAE?
Once you complete the trademark registration steps in the UAE, you can enjoy its long-term validity. Typically, the trademark registration validity is 10 years. Therefore, you must renew your trademark after this validity period is over.
It’s imperative to note that this registration would only work in the UAE. You can get in touch with the trademark specialists, and we’ll manage all these procedures for you. In addition, we’ll also help you renew your trademark after the designated trademark registration validity period of 10 years.
How to Renew Your UAE Trademark?
Owners of trademarks have three months from the date of expiry to start the trademark renewal procedure after the ten-year time limit has passed. Though it is preferable to renew your trademark immediately, delaying your renewal will result in a 1,000 AED fine per month.
The process for renewing a trademark is very similar to that of registering it in the first place.
- Visit the UAE Ministry of Economy website, then click the “Trademarks” option under the services heading.
- Choose “Modification and Maintenance services.”.
- From the drop-down menu, pick “Trademark Renewal.”
- Publish a copy of your original trademark registration certificate and include it with your application.
- Pay the fees (renew your trademark within 30 days).
Difference Between a Trademark and Other IP
A trademark is an intellectual property (IP) that protects brand identifiers such as logos, names, and symbols to distinguish goods and services from others. Trademarks help consumers identify the source of products or services and ensure businesses can protect their brand identity.
Here are the key differences between trademarks and other types of intellectual property:
Trademark vs. Copyright:
- Trademark: Protects logos, names, slogans, symbols, and other identifiers of goods and services.
- Copyright: Protects original works of authorship like books, music, movies, paintings, and software code.
- Main Difference: Trademarks focus on brand identity, while copyrights protect creative expression.
Trademark vs. Patent:
- Trademark: Protects the branding of goods or services (e.g., logos or product names).
- Patent: Protects inventions, new processes, or new technologies that are novel, non-obvious, and useful.
- Main Difference: Trademarks protect brand identity, while patents protect innovative inventions or technology.
Trademark vs. Trade Secret:
- Trademark: Publicly registers a brand or product identifier to secure exclusive rights.
- Trade Secret: Protects confidential business information like formulas, processes, or strategies that provide a competitive advantage.
- Main Difference: Companies register trademarks and make them public, while they keep trade secrets confidential within the company.
Related Post
In essence, trademarks safeguard branding elements; copyrights cover creative works, patents protect inventions, and trade secrets maintain proprietary information. Each IP type serves different purposes in protecting a company’s intellectual assets.
Connect with Shuraa for trademark registration
There are various business name laws in the UAE, and the name you choose should not break any of the government’s recommendations. The requirements are simple to understand. Furthermore, reserving a commercial name for your firm will not be difficult.
Getting a legal business name is vital because you’ll need it at different stages of the Dubai company registration process. An appealing brand name can help you expand your reach while instilling trust in your customers.
If you’re still confused about what a trademark represents or why it’s essential to implement one for your business, you may need further clarification. Speak to Shuraa Business Setup Experts and learn more about trademark registration in the UAE.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. What is a patent?
A patent is a legal right granted to an inventor for their novel invention, preventing others from making, using, or selling it without permission.
Q2. How long is the registration valid in the UAE?
In the U.A.E., a patent is valid for 20 years from the filing date, with the possibility of renewal for additional periods.
Q3. What can you register as trademarks in the UAE?
Trademarks in the UAE can include logos, names, slogans, designs, and even specific sounds or colours used in commerce.
Q4. What is a copyright?
Copyright is the legal protection granted to the creator of original works such as literature, music, and art, giving them exclusive rights to use and distribute the work.
Q5. How can I register my trademark globally?
You can register your trademark globally through the Madrid System, a system administered by the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) that simplifies international registration.
Q6. Can I register my name as a trademark?
Yes, you can register your name as a trademark, provided it meets the distinctiveness criteria and is not too generic or standard in your field.
*Note: The information in this post is for general guidance only and may change due to updates in government policies or regulations.
