TME Legal
Trademark Law in Dubai
Learn everything about trademark law in Dubai: registration, protection period, costs & defending your trademarks.
A strong brand presence is a crucial success factor for any company. It is even more serious when third parties use your brand without consent or sell imitations under your name. Especially the trade in counterfeits, particularly in the luxury and design product sector, demonstrates the importance of consistent and legally sound trademark protection.
The trademark law of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) offers comprehensive protection for all signs associated with a company’s goods or services. This includes not only company names and logos, but also slogans, color schemes, and product designs. Early and strategic safeguarding of your brand is therefore essential to permanently secure its value and successfully ward off unfair competition.
Our internationally oriented law firm TME Legal supports you in all matters of trademark law – from registration and administration to defense against trademark infringements, and the development of individual strategies for the long-term protection and successful positioning of your brand.
Our Consulting Services in Trademark and Intellectual Property Law in Dubai
We provide comprehensive advice to companies, investors, start-ups, and individuals on trademark law in Dubai and the UAE. Our goal is not only to reliably secure your trademark rights but also to strategically develop them further and fully exploit their economic potential.
Our legal advice specifically includes:
- Conducting comprehensive trademark searches for availability checks and conflict analysis
- Application and registration of trademarks with the competent authorities in the UAE
- Management of existing protection rights, including renewals and portfolio management
- Development of tailored trademark protection strategies for the long-term safeguarding of your distinctive signs
- Enforcement of trademark rights and combating product piracy
- Advice on online infringements as well as in domain and name disputes
- Representation in opposition and cancellation proceedings
- Defense against unjustified claims by third parties
- Drafting, review, and negotiation of license and transfer agreements
- Advice on the economic exploitation and monetization of trademarks
- Due diligence examinations in the context of company acquisitions and transactions
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Frequently Asked Questions about
Trademark Law in Dubai
Who is eligible for trademark registration in the UAE?
In the UAE, the right to apply for a trademark is generally open to both natural and legal persons. The prerequisite is that the applicant owns the trademark and has a legitimate interest in registering the trademark in the UAE. It is not required to have a business domicile or residence in the UAE for this purpose.
Furthermore, the trademark must meet certain legal requirements. It must not violate public order or morality, contain offensive content, and must be clearly distinguishable from existing trademarks. In addition, trademark law in the UAE requires actual and serious use of the registered trademark. Pure defensive or protective registrations without concrete use are possible, but vulnerable to challenge.
How do I register a company trademark in Dubai?
Trademark applications in the UAE are filed with the competent Ministry of Economy. Various documents must be submitted for registration, including the trademark logo, a copy of the valid trade license, a power of attorney, a priority document if applicable, and a copy of the applicant’s passport.
Upon receipt of the application, the authority examines the submitted documents for completeness and legality. Subsequently, the trademark is published in the official gazette to allow third parties to file an opposition within a specified period. If no such opposition is filed, the trademark is entered into the register, thereby establishing legal trademark protection.
How long does it take to register a trademark in the UAE?
From application to final registration of a trademark, a processing time of approximately three months or more can generally be expected. Delays can particularly occur if the submitted documents are incomplete or if oppositions are raised by third parties during the publication process.
What types of signs can be protected as trademarks in the UAE?
UAE trademark law is broad and allows for the registration of various signs. These include, among others:
- Words and Slogans
- Symbols and Logos
- Colors and Color Combinations
- Product Designs and Distinctive Signs
- Brand Names
- Sounds
How long is trademark protection valid in Dubai?
A registered trademark in Dubai is initially protected for a period of 10 years from the application date. Before the expiry of this period, the protection should be extended for another ten years by timely payment of the renewal fees. This can be repeated indefinitely. In this way, indefinite trademark protection is possible, provided that renewals are carried out correctly and on time.
What are the costs for registering a trademark in Dubai?
The official fees for trademark registration in Dubai generally start at AED 6,000. Additional expenses may arise, for example, for certified translations or legal advice during the application process. The exact total cost always depends on the individual case and the scope of the desired protection rights.
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