The United Arab Emirates has become a wide market for protecting the industrial property rights of all marks, and trademarks particularly. This is due to its attracting environment and effective systems. Whereas the protection of foreigner investors and their assets has become a priority for the UAE legislator, several laws and amendments were issued for achieving the best current situation.

Trademarks registration aims at protecting the company’s name and logo, whereas they are considered as the most important assets of the company. In addition, it prevents any third party from using your trademark, or any similar trademarks. In addition, the registration grants the right to claim and take legal procedures in case any person uses your trademark or violates your related rights.

In general, the aim of trademark is to distinguish or refer a certain product of the services provided by the trademark owner. Accordingly, the UAE laws stipulate that it is not permitted to register several marks as a trademark such as the marks describe the service or product itself, general slogans, flags, other symbols related to the international organizations, any mark prejudicing the public ethics or contravenes public order, signs of a religious nature, or geographical names whose use may result in confusion for the ordinary person in order to link the proposed trademark to some geographical indications related to the origin.

If your trademark is registered in accordance with the Paris Agreement, it will be granted protection from the date of the original filing in the United Arab Emirates Trademark Office, in other words, it will have priority over other applications submitted in the same period.

The trademarks registration application shall be submitted before the concerned authority affiliated to the United Arab Emirates Ministry of Economy, in the seven Emirates (Abu Dhabi, Ajman, Fujairah, Sharjah, Dubai, Ras Al Khaimah and Umm Al Quwain). The registration application should include the trademark itself, its classification according to Nice Agreement. The application will be subject to examination. Hence, the concerned authority takes its decision in respect of the application, either by acceptance or rejection. In case the application is accepted, it will be published in the bulletin of official trademarks and two Arabic newspapers before the registration thereof. Any party has grounds for objection shall be granted a period granted by law for objection as of the date of publication. In case no objection is submitted, then the trademark shall be valid for registration, and the applicant will be delivered a certificate with attesting the application. However, the examiner may take a decision with rejection, upon examining the trademark, in case it is proven to be similar to other registered trademark or in contrary to the law provisions.