Trademark Registration in Dubai, UAE

Trademark Registration is one of the most effective and indispensable systems designed for business owners to protect the identity of business products. According to UAE Federal Law No. 37 of 1992 on Trademarks, a trademark can be any distinctive form of symbols, words, logos, signs, names, labels, designs, pictures, titles, hallmarks, seals, patterns, announcements, packs or any other marks or group of marks. Trademarks are registered to distinguish products, goods or services for a particular business or brand owner either individual or organization.  Businesses register trademarks to designate that certain products, goods or services are associated with the owners of the trademarks. It helps businesses to enjoy the goodwill & reputation of the brands in the market that is created by maintaining the quality of the goods or services.

The following information helps businesses to avail the services of Dubai Customs and Dubai Economy to protect their brands from fake goods entering the UAE and to lodge a complaint to Dubai Economy if still fake goods are found in the grey market:

Trademark registration with UAE customs ensures customs protection of UAE registered trademarks. It allows the trademark owners to file complaints with custom authority on violating imports… Read more

IP gateway by Dubai Economy works to protect registered trademarks in the emirate of Dubai. It allows the business owner to lodge a complaint to restrict the trademark or agency infringement… Read More

Brief Overview of the UAE Trademark Law

In the UAE, the Trademark Office work under the Ministry of Economy. Federal Law No. 8 for the year 2002 amended some articles of the Federal Law No. 37 for the year 1992. The law covers all seven Emirates of the United Arab Emirates i.e. Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ras Al Khaimah, Ajman, Fujairah and Umm Al Quwain. The Registration Certificate of Trademark in UAE is valid for all 7 States. Although, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has been a member of the Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property since September 19, 1996, but still global trademark application under Madrid protocol not yet started although Bahrain and Oman have started.

Trademarks come under the broader spectrum of Intellectual Property (IP) rights but are different from patents and copyrights. Registration of patents offers protection to inventions, while copyright registration safeguards an original work of authorship.

What Cannot Be Registered as a Trademark in the UAE?

Following are the type of possessions that the authorities in the UAE prohibit from registering as trademarks:

• Descriptive Marks or marks that are not distinctive
• Any mark that is against public morals or public order
• Flags that bear similarities to flags of any country, international organizations, governments
• Emblems and logos of a similar nature
• Logos of the Red Cross or the Red Crescent or any other imitation of such similar organizations
• Marks that look similar to symbols having a purely religious character
• Use of Geographic names that may cause misunderstanding as to the origin of a product or service
• National Medals, International Medals, Banknotes, coins
• A translated version of a well-known mark or an already registered trademark if such it confuses the consumers

Trademark Registration Requirements in the UAE

Following documents are required to file the application of trademark registration in the UAE:

For Individual Applicant

• Trademark in PDF file
• Scanned Passport copy
• Complete home address
• Power of Attorney (Notarized by the Notary Public & legalized by the UAE)

For Company/Business

• Trademark in PDF file
• Scanned copy of Trade License
• Scanned Passport copy of Authorised Signatory
• Power of Attorney (Notarized by the Notary Public & legalized by the UAE)

For Foreign Company

• Trademark in PDF file
• Scanned copy of the certificate of incorporation
• Scanned Passport copy of Authorised Signatory
• Power of Attorney (Notarized by the Notary Public & legalized by the UAE)

Process of Filing an Application for Trademark Registration in the UAE

1. Trademark Search

Trademark search in the UAE is not a mandatory requirement but highly advisable to check before filing the application for the prior identical or similar application/registration.

2. Filing of a Trademark Application

After completing the trademark search, trademark agents file the application of registering a trademark with Trademark office

(Note: Foreign companies/individual cannot file a trademark application without approved trademark agents in UAE)

3. Application Examination

After receiving the files, registrar examine the application pursuant to the UAE trademark law

4. Issuance of Acceptance or Rejection Order

In accordance with the law, registrar issue acceptance or rejection order against a trademark application

5. Publication of Trademark in Local Newspapers

In case of acceptance, the trademark is published into two local Arabic newspaper within 30 days count from acceptance letter. Official fees of publication of trademark into official gazette are also required to be paid at the same time

Note: Official gazette in UAE published every last day of the month.

6. Opposition Period

The opposition period is for 30 days, legally opposition period will be started after the publishing of trademark into the official gazette.

7. Time Frame for Final Registration Fees

In case of no opposition from any other person or entity on the trademark within the legal time period, trademark application becomes matured for final registration fees, automatically. Trademark office does not issue any special notification for the payment of final registration fees. The deadline to pay the final registration fees count from the date of last day of the opposition period. Deadline is 30 day

8. Registration Certificate

Trademark office issue the registration certificate at the same of paying the final registration fees. Trademark registration certificate is valid for 10 years count from the date of filing the application.

Note: UAE trademark office no longer issue a trademark registration certificate in hard copy, trademark owners are provided with softcopy of the certificate that is valid across all the government departments in the UAE.

Trademark Agents in Dubai, UAE | Jitendra Intellectual Property

Why Choose Trademark Registration Services by Jitendra Intellectual Property?

Jitendra Intellectual Property (JIP) is a full-service IP firm established in 2001. JIP’s team of trademark agents in UAE can assist you by offering the following Services:

• Advise on the registration through search report, selection and retention of trademarks
• Prepare and prosecute trademark applications
• Advise on the registration in relevant trademark classes based on the type of business
• Handle trademark rights maintenance including payment of renewal fees
• Record amendments to a trademark including change of name, change of address, assignment merger, mortgage, licensing and franchising of rights
• Provide an on-going watch service to monitor the relevant jurisdictions for acts of trademark infringement
• Provide market investigations to detect potential acts of counterfeit and piracy
• Provide assistance on filing the complaint against trademark infringement across the UAE
• File application of recording of a registered trademark with custom authorities in UAE
• File application of trademark protection with Dubai Economy
• Assist in product registration with municipality bodies in the UAE
• Assist in filing for administrative actions against fake goods
• Amendment in Registered Trademark
• Renewal of a registered trademark
• Recordal of change of assignment (change of ownership)
• Cancel or oppose the grant of registrations before national offices