What is the Trademark Registration Procedure in UAE?

Entrepreneurs and investors worldwide come to UAE (United Arab Emirates) to start their own companies because this country has the top class business infrastructure, which has led to more competition in the global market. Some companies face problems such as the brand logo or symbol or name being copied or misuse by any unauthorized person without their permission, which impacts their business. That’s why it is vital to do trademark registration in the UAE. Once you completed the Trademark Registration procedure in UAE, you will be legally recognized as the good and service’s owner with that registered trademark. In this blog, we discuss the Trademark Registration procedure in UAE.

Meaning of a Trademark

Before we discuss the trademark registration procedure in UAE, we must know the definition of a trademark. Trademark is nothing but a brand logo, name, or symbol used to recognize a particular company’s goods or services. A trademark can be a symbol, words, signature, name, figure, image, and inscription used to discriminate a set of goods, services, and products as either belonging to a particular owner.

Also, there are several benefits of trademark registration in the UAE, such as securing or safeguarding your brand. It also makes sure that other companies cannot copy or misuse your registered trademark. The Ministry of Economy of UAE governs the renewal, cancellation, and the trademark registration procedure in UAE.

Also, Read: What are the Violations of Trademark?

Limitations of Trademark Registration in UAE

There are some limitations that you should remember when registering trademarks in the UAE. If you want to register a trademark in the UAE, it should not contain any of the following:

• Any offenses against any public religions and public morals.
• Public symbols or logos such as flags.
• Symbols like Red Crescent and Red Cross.
• Titles or names of third parties.
• Direct translations of other well-recognized trademarks.

Apart from these limitations, there may be extra limitations which you can find out by contacting the UAE’s Ministry of Economy.

Documents required for the Trademark Registration Procedure in UAE

Following are some documents required at the time of the trademark registration procedure in UAE:

• Submit a copy of Incorporation Certificate.
• Submit a copy of the applicant’s identity proofs such as Aadhar Card, Driving License, Passport, Voter’s ID, etc.
• Power of Attorney.
• Description of business.
• Priority document.
• Copy of Trade License.
• Classification as per standards of Trademark Register Laws of UAE.
• Submit soft copies of image, logo or name of trademark (colour -black and white).
• In case registered in another country, submit Trademark Registration Certificate.
• Words translation in the trademark.
• Additional documents vary from case to case.

Step by Step Procedure for Trademark Registration in UAE

The Trademark Registration Procedure in UAE is very simple, and if you want to register your company’s trademark in the UAE, you will need to follow the steps as mentioned below:

Step 1: Ensure the Trademark has not registered already

Before starting for the trademark registration procedure in UAE (United Arab Emirates), it is important to ensure that mark is already registered or not by other company. If another company already registers the mark, then you are not able to register it. You can do this by searching a trademark online by using various tools like Marcaria. Once you confirm that the trademark is not registered, you can go further with the next step of registration.

Step 2: Fill the Application Form

After searching the trademark, the next step is to fill an application form online on the official website of Ministry of Economy of the UAE which is official that governs trademark applications. For that, you have to select the “Services” button on the homepage of the website and then click “e-Services” tab from the dropdown menu. After that, you have to select “Trademarks” from the services page and then click “Trademark Registration” under new applications new application. Fill the application along with the documents.

Step 3: Pay the fee for registration in the UAE

Once you fill and submit the application form online, you have to pay the specified fees for the trademark registration in the UAE. The trademark registration cost in the UAE does not include any translation fees and any legal fees that you need to pay. The applicant can pay the fees for the registration through the website of the Ministry of Economy.

Step 4: Inspection of Application Form

Once you submit the application for the trademark registration online, the Ministry of Economy will examine your application. You must be correct and accurate while filing the application, and if they found any missing or any incorrect detail, then they will reject the application form. So, if this happens, the applicant can modify or appeal for their application. If your application is correct and accurate, then the Ministry of Economy will give approval within thirty days.

Step 5: Publish an Announcement in Local Newspaper

Once your application gets approved from Ministry of Economy, you will need to publish an announcement of your trademark published in the official journal, but for that, you have to pay some fees to the Ministry of Economy who will publish the same on your behalf. The applicant will also be required to publish the trademark’s announcement in the official journal in two local newspapers. After that, members of the public have thirty days to raise a trademark objection. If someone objects to your trademark in the specific period, the Ministry of Economy will examine the objection.

Step 6: Issuance of Trademark Registration Certificate

If there is no objection raised to your trademark in a given time, the UAE’s Ministry of Economy will issue a Certificate of Trademark registration in the UAE. The certificate will contain essential details such as the trade name, name of the owner, trademark registration number, the trademark itself, and a description of the goods and services.

Validity of Trademark registration in the UAE

The validity of a registered trademark in the UAE is ten years after which it must be renewed. Always keep in mind that trademark registration only protects in the seven emirates of the UAE and not anywhere globally.

Trademark Renewal in the UAE

Once the validity of trademark registration is expired, you will have only three months from the expiry date. But for each month that you delay the trademark renewal in the UAE you will need to pay AED 1000 as a fine.

Conclusion

The trademark registration procedure in UAE has an indifferent procedure from any other country in the world. It’s important to do a trademark search before starting a Trademark registration in the UAE. Many business owners now know that trademark registration is vital and can help the business reach a new level of success in the market. If anyone wants to expand their business by providing a trademark to the business, contact Swarit Advisors.

Also, Read: Types of Trademarks in India: A Complete Guide