Starting a business in Dubai involves more than just obtaining a trade license. It’s about creating a brand that resonates with and is cherished by the city’s cosmopolitan populace. Designing and crafting a brand’s identity—its logo, styling, taglines, and other elements through which your brand communicates with customers—requires significant time, money, and effort. However, all this hard work can be at risk of being stolen. Yes, through copyright infringement and other means, others may copy your brand. That’s why one essential step for running a successful business is trademark registration in Dubai.
Trademark registration in UAE allows you to safeguard your brand’s essential elements, making it a priority on your list. Let’s explore what is trademark registration in UAE and its process. We will also discuss how to renew or cancel a trademark and the associated costs you should be aware of.
Overview of trademark registration UAE:
A brand’s trademark refers to any unique work, name, letter, colour, mark, or combination of these that provides distinctive and attractive identification. It helps your customers recognize your products and services while building goodwill over time. An entrepreneur and their creative team invest considerable time and effort into designing the trademark for the brand.
When you have something so unique to your brand, you certainly don’t want it to be copied, right? That’s where trademark registration comes in. Trademark registration in UAE is a legal service provided by the Ministry of Economy that helps brands and companies safeguard their brand elements. All they need to do is register with the ministry, gaining exclusive ownership and control rights over the trademark for up to 10 years, which can be further extended for the same period. If anyone else copies or tries to infringe upon it, they will face legal penalties and consequences.
Benefits of trademark registration in Dubai:
- Prevents counterfeiting and duplication of your brand’s logo, name, etc.
- Gain legal powers to protect your trademark.
- Build customer trust and global recognition.
- Distinguish yourself from competitors.
- Legally file a case against any misuse.
- Increases brand’s value and grants right to use copyright symbol.
Trademark law in UAE:
The Ministry has introduced Federal Decree-Law No. 36 of 2021, which regulates the processes, definitions, and other essentials associated with trademark registration in the UAE.
According to the law, the following can be trademarked: any form of words, signatures, names, figures, letters, logos, titles, graphics, hallmarks, pictures, seals, patterns, and other marks that distinguish products or indicate ownership by a specific entity, whether a company or an individual.
However, certain marks cannot be trademarked in UAE, including:
- Marks that offend public and moral sentiments
- The Red Crescent or any Red Cross symbols
- Religious signs
- False or misleading information
- Marks already registered
- Third-party names or logos without their consent, etc.
Also, the validity of the trademark registration in Dubai is 10 years, renewable upon expiry for same period.
Who can make a trademark registration request in UAE?
Any person or business that wants to safeguard their trademark and secure the unique image of their products and services must register it with the Ministry. This includes:
- UAE citizens and any foreigner, whether a business or an individual, engaged in commercial activities or industry within the UAE.
- Public legal entities.
- Any foreigner, whether a business or an individual, engaged in commercial activities in a country that offers the same treatment to the UAE.
Process of trademark registration in Dubai:
Here are the simple steps you need to follow for trademark registration in Dubai:
Check the eligibility:
You must make sure that the mark you want to get registered does not violate any rules set by the relevant laws. It should not be previously registered, must not be offensive to public morals, must not contain the name of any religion, must not include Red Crescent signs, and must not have any misleading signs, etc.
Make registration application:
Next, you must apply for trademark registration online through the official website of the Ministry of Economy. On the website, look for trademark services under e-services. Enter all the required information and upload the necessary documents. Submit the form and pay the trademark registration fee, which is AED 750. After submission, you will need to wait for the Ministry to review your application, which takes around 90 days.
Publishing on official bulletin:
Once your trademark registration in Dubai gets approved, an announcement will be made on Ministry’s official bulletin. Then, the trademark will get registered.
Passing of objection period:
After your trademark registration is published, there is a 30-day period during which any concerned party can raise an opposition. If an opposition is filed, you will need to respond within 30 days. A proper hearing may be scheduled by the Ministry, and after the hearing, a decision will be issued.
Issue of trademark registration certificate:
If there are no objections within the 30-day period, or if the decision is still in your favour, the Ministry will issue a trademark registration certificate. You will need to pay a fee of AED 5,000. The certificate includes essential information such as your trademark registration number, a copy of the trademark, the date of registration, the expiry date, your name, address, and other personal details.
With the trademark registration certificate in hand, you can be assured that your bands identity is protected under UAE’s law now.
Trademark renewal and cancellation in UAE:
You can renew your trademark by submitting a request to the Ministry. To do this, visit the Ministry’s website and select “Renew Trademark” under trade services. Then, fill out the application form and attach the required documents, such as your commercial license, power of attorney, and trade registration certificate. Make the payment of the fees and submit the request.
Similarly, you can cancel your trademark by visiting the Ministry’s website, selecting “Cancel Trademark” under trade services. Complete the application form and upload the necessary documents, including your trade license, a letter explaining the reason for cancellation, and power of attorney, if applicable. Finally, pay the fees and submit the application.
Cost of trademark registration UAE:
- The trademark registration UAE cost is AED 6,500, which includes:
- An application fee of AED 750
- Registration fee of AED 5,000
- Publication fees of AED 750
- Trademark renewal fees is AED 6,500 (during protection period) or 7,250 (within 6 months after expiry).
- Cancellation includes publication fees of EAD 750
These trademark registration cost in Dubai is determined by the Ministry of Economy and are subject to changes.
Contact Dubiz for trademark registration:
Understanding trademarks and their registration in the UAE is essential for any business operating in the nation. Trademark registration UAE is an investment in securing your brand’s bright future. Protecting your brand elements is crucial; it creates a distinct image in Dubai’s thriving business hub and helps deter infringers. However, you must pay careful attention to what can be trademarked in the UAE and complete the application process diligently.
If you are looking for reliable trademark registration companies in Dubai, your search ends here. At Dubiz, our experts can manage the entire process on your behalf, guiding you through trademark searches, filings, monitoring, and renewals. By partnering with us, you can save significant time and effort while avoiding delays and cancellations.
So why wait? Contact Dubiz Business Setup today:
Call us at: +971 562986853 Whatsapp us at: +971 501309366 Mail us at: info@dubiz.co
