Discover the risks and dangers of failing to register a trademark to understand the value and importance of trademark registration for your brand.
The Risks of Not Registering a Trademark
United Arab Emirates Trademark Registration
Protect Your Brand in the United Arab Emirates Through a Simple Process Backed by Certified Local Attorneys
Simple steps to register your trademark
STEP 1
Comprehensive Trademark Study
Before filing your trademark in the United Arab Emirates, you must evaluate any issues that may arise during the registration process. Our Comprehensive Trademark Study not only lists similar trademarks (graphic and phonetic) that may conflict with yours but also provides you with an Attorney's opinion on the trademark registration possibilities and the class(es) that your goods/services belong to.
- Graphic and phonetic similarity trademark search report
- Trademark attorney's analysis and advice
- Trademark class recommendation
STEP 2
Trademark Application Filing
Specialized attorneys will file your trademark application in the United Arab Emirates and carry out all the necessary formalities to bring your application for approval and registration. As soon as your trademark is filed, we will send you a filing report that will include the application number and application date. Also, we will send you a scanned copy of the filed application.
- Process Handled by Experienced Trademark Attorneys
- Filing the Report & a Scanned Copy of the application
- Tracking the Registration Process Online
STEP 3
Trademark Registration Certificate
Once your trademark application is approved, our attorneys complete all the formalities necessary to obtain the registration certificate in the United Arab Emirates. After the certificate is issued, it is forwarded to your address along with a registration report specifying the registration number, registration date, and any special consideration that should be taken into account in the United Arab Emirates.
- Process Handled by Experienced Trademark Attorneys
- Delivery of Registration Certificate & Report
- Monitoring & Notification of Important Dates
Additional Services in the United Arab Emirates
Discover how our services help protect and strengthen your brand in the United Arab Emirates.
Trademark Search
Check if your trademark is available for registration with our easy-to-use search tool.
Search TrademarkTrademark Renewal
Renew your trademark to maintain uninterrupted protection for your brand.
Renew TrademarkDomain Registration
Safeguard your local domain with ease through our trusted partner, Register.Domains.
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National vs. International Trademark Registration
Discover how national and international trademark registration compare, the pros and cons of each, and which is right for you.
Commonly Asked Questions About Trademark Registration
Learn answers to some of the most commonly asked questions on trademark registrations to improve your trademark knowledge.
Frequently Asked Questions
If I register my trademark in the United Arab Emirates, will it be protected in other countries?
Registering a trademark in the United Arab Emirates only provides protection within its borders, which include the following seven emirates:
- Abu Dhabi
- Ajman
- Dubai
- Fujairah
- Ras al-Khaimah
- Sharjah
- Umm al-Quwain
Should I register my trademark in the local language characters?
Yes, to ensure wider and stronger protection in the United Arab Emirates, it's advisable to register your trademark in local characters.
Registering the trademark only in its original form (Latin characters) may not fully safeguard its equivalent in the local language. This could allow others to use or register the same or a similar trademark in local characters.
Besides the legal advantages, registering and using the trademark in local characters can also offer commercial benefits. People in the United Arab Emirates will more easily recognize and correctly pronounce your brand if it's in a familiar script.
By registering your trademark in both its original form and local transliteration/translation, you gain stronger protection against potential infringements.
Do I need to sign a Power of Attorney document?
Yes, you need to sign a power of attorney.
What are the steps involved in the trademark application process in the United Arab Emirates after filing?
The application process involves the following steps:
- formal requirements
- classification
- clarity
- descriptiveness
- distinctiveness
- deceptiveness
- conflicts with existing registrations
- trademark
- applicant's name
- applicant's address
- application number
- application date
- goods/services
- priority claim details
- trademark representation
Can someone claim priority in the United Arab Emirates, and under what conditions?
- The applicant's home country must be part of the Paris Convention.
- The home application should have been submitted within the last six months before applying in the UAE.
- The applicant's home country must be a member of the World Trade Organization.
Can a registration be canceled?
Registration can be canceled for the following reasons:
- Ownership rights
- Famous or well-known mark
- Lack of distinctiveness
- Misleading, deceptive, or offensive mark
- Descriptive mark
- Personal name rights
- Protection of national symbols, flags, and emblems
- Registered by an agent or representative without authorization
- Trade names
- Generic mark
- Does not qualify as a trademark
- Contrary to public policy or morality
- Contains a geographical indication
What is the duration of the opposition period?
The opposition period starts when the application is published in the Official Gazette and in two Arabic newspapers in the UAE. It ends 30 days after the last publication date. The opponent must provide a legalized power of attorney.
What is the typical duration for trademark registration approval?
Typically, it takes about 10 months to get a trademark registered, provided there are no objections or challenges.
Do I need to use my trademark before applying for registration?
To apply, you must either be using the trademark already or have a genuine intention to use it.
Who is eligible to challenge my trademark application?
According to UAE law, anyone with a legitimate interest can challenge a trademark application.
What rights do you gain by registering a trademark?
Registering a trademark grants the following rights:
- Exclusive use of the trademark
- Ability to license the trademark to others
- Right to challenge later conflicting trademark registrations
- Right to oppose new conflicting trademark applications
- Right to seek damages for trademark infringement
- Right to take legal action against confusingly similar trademark use
- Right to request customs to seize counterfeit goods
- Option to register with administrative enforcement bodies, like the Dubai Department of Economic Development
- Option to register with customs in Dubai, Sharjah, and Ras al-Khaimah
- Right to ask courts or authorities to take preliminary actions, seize samples, and impound stock
Does registering a trademark in the United Arab Emirates provide me with any legal rights?
While you don't have to register a trademark to have rights to it in the UAE, it's a good idea to do so. Without registration, proving your rights to an unregistered trademark can be challenging.
What actions are necessary to meet the usage requirement for a trademark?
To satisfy the use requirement, a trademark must be used within five years. The law does not specify how much use is needed, but it must take place in the United Arab Emirates.
How long is a trademark valid once it has been registered?
The trademark registration is valid for 10 years starting from the date you apply.
Still have questions?