Trademark registration in the UAE: process, fees and renewal

General information, not legal advice. Check the Ministry's current service pages, and consider a registered trademark agent or lawyer for anything complex.

Your brand name and logo are some of the most valuable things your startup owns. A trade name on your licence is not the same as a registered trademark. If someone else registers a similar mark first, you could face a dispute, a forced rebrand, or problems selling on marketplaces and app stores.

In the UAE, trademarks are registered federally through the Ministry of Economy and Tourism (MoET). This guide walks through the process as MoET describes it, the official fees, timelines and renewal, and what founders should do before they file.

Trade name vs trademark

• Trade name: the name registered on your trade licence with your licensing authority. It identifies your company for licensing purposes.
• Trademark: a sign (a word, logo, slogan or combination) registered with MoET for specific goods or services, which gives you exclusive rights to use it in the UAE for those classes.

Founders often assume their licence protects their brand. It usually doesn't protect it in the way a trademark does. If your brand matters to your business, consider both.

Before you file: three checks

1. Is your mark distinctive?

Marks that simply describe the product ("Best Dubai Cleaning") are harder to register and protect than distinctive ones. Invented words and unusual combinations tend to be stronger.

2. Is it already taken?

MoET examines each application to check that the mark is not identical or similar to one already registered or applied for (MoET: Register trademark). Do your own search first, using MoET's trademark e-services (MoET e-services: Trademark), and check the trade names in use through the licence and name enquiry links on u.ae (u.ae: verify business licences).

3. Which classes do you need?

Trademarks are registered for specific classes of goods and services. A software company and a clothing brand will file in different classes. List what you sell now and what you realistically plan to sell in the next few years, and file for the classes that matter most. Each class is a separate application cost, so prioritise.

The process, step by step

Based on MoET's register-trademark service page:

1. Apply and pay the examination fee. Submit the application online with the mark, the classes and the applicant's details. If you file through an agent from outside the country, a power of attorney is needed.
2. Examination. MoET reviews whether the mark is registrable and not identical or similar to existing marks. The page says the applicant is notified of the decision within 20 days. An expedited one-business-day examination is also offered at a higher fee.
3. Publication. If accepted, you pay the publication fee and the mark is published in the official trademark bulletin. Pay within 30 days of the acceptance decision to avoid late-payment fines.
4. Objection period. Third parties have 30 days from the bulletin's issue date to object.
5. Registration. After the objection period, you pay the final registration fee and MoET issues the registration certificate within 30 days of the end of the objection period. Late payment of this fee also attracts fines.

Official fees

MoET lists the following fees for registering a trademark (MoET: Register trademark), checked 15 Oct 2026:

Stage	Fee (AED)
Examination (regular)	750
Examination (expedited, one business day)	2,250
Publication	750
Final registration (trademark)	5,000

Quality marks have a higher registration fee. Fees are per application, and you'll need separate applications for different classes. Government fees can change, so check the page before you file. Agents and lawyers charge their own fees on top.

How long protection lasts, and renewal

MoET's renewal service allows the owner to renew a registered trademark's protection for another 10 years without a new examination, and without others being able to object to the renewal (MoET: Renew trademark). You can apply:

• during the tenth (final) year of the current protection period, or
• up to six months after it expires, at a higher fee.

Put the renewal date in your calendar the day you receive the certificate.

Practical tips for founders

• File early. Ideally before you invest heavily in branding, signage and marketing. The date you file matters.
• Register in the owner's correct name. Decide whether the company or a founder will own the mark, and document it. Investors and acquirers will check this later.
• Protect the word mark first. A word mark often gives broader protection than a logo alone; add the logo later if budget is tight.
• Think beyond the UAE. A UAE registration protects your mark in the UAE. If you plan to sell in other countries, look into registering there too.
• Watch for similar marks. Keep an eye on the trademark bulletin for marks that could conflict with yours, so you can object within the window.
• Keep evidence of use. Save dated examples of your brand in use (invoices, packaging, website screenshots).

Trademarks and other IP

A trademark protects your brand. Other types of intellectual property, such as copyright in your software or content, and patents for inventions, are handled differently. If your business depends on technology or creative work, take advice on which protections apply. Registered IP can also be useful evidence when you describe your project to programmes or authorities, as in our Golden Visa for entrepreneurs guide.

Frequently asked questions

How long does trademark registration in the UAE take? MoET says the applicant is notified of the examination decision within 20 days. After acceptance and publication, third parties have 30 days to object, and the certificate is issued within 30 days of the end of the objection period.

What are the official UAE trademark fees? MoET lists AED 750 for regular examination, AED 750 for publication and AED 5,000 for final registration of a trademark, per application. Fees can change, so check the MoET page before you file.

Do I need a lawyer or agent? Not necessarily for a simple word mark, since MoET offers the service online. For complex cases, objections or international filings, professional help is worth considering.

Can I use ™ before registration? Many businesses use ™ to show they claim a mark. Use ® only once the mark is registered. Check with an adviser about local practice.

What if someone objects? You'll need to respond within the timeframe MoET sets. This is where professional advice is most useful.

A quick trademark checklist

• Mark checked for distinctiveness
• Search done on MoET e-services and trade name enquiries
• Priority classes chosen
• Owner decided (company or founder) and documented
• Application filed; examination fee paid
• Publication fee paid within 30 days of acceptance
• Objection period tracked; final fee paid on time
• Certificate saved; renewal date in the calendar

Where Startup Roof fits

Protecting your brand is one of the early steps that's easy to postpone. Startup Roof is a UAE-first founder ecosystem with source-checked guides, founder tools and templates, and a network of people building here. Explore startuproof.com to see what's there.

Build. Scale. Grow.

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Sources (checked 15 Oct 2026)

• Ministry of Economy and Tourism: Register trademark; Renew registration of trademark
• MoET e-services: Trademark
• u.ae: Verify business licences, names and activities