UAE Cabinet Approves Revised Trademark Service Fees to Bolster IP Landscape
Dubai, UAE – The United Arab Emirates Cabinet has issued a significant decision regarding the fees for trademark services administered by the Ministry of Economy and Tourism. The move, announced during a recent media briefing in Dubai, aims to enhance the nation’s intellectual property framework, streamline business operations, and attract international investment.
Officials from the Ministry of Economy and Tourism underscored that the UAE is committed to developing a robust legislative and regulatory environment for intellectual property rights. Trademarks, in particular, have been identified as a critical component of this ecosystem, supported by advanced legislation such as Federal Decree-Law No. 36 of 2021 concerning Trademarks and its implementing regulations.
The decision is expected to boost the UAE’s appeal to global investors and companies, while also providing support for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and People of Determination. Its objectives include improving service quality, expediting procedures for trademark registration and follow-up, and aligning the UAE’s intellectual property sector with leading international benchmarks.
Significant Growth in Trademark Registrations Noted
Ministry data reveals a substantial increase in trademark registrations within the UAE market. A total of 19,957 national and international trademarks were registered during the first half of this year, marking a 129 percent growth compared to the 8,711 registrations recorded in the corresponding period of 2023. The total number of registered national and international trademarks in the UAE is projected to reach 402,311 by the end of September 2025.
Strategic Initiatives for Trademark Competitiveness
The Ministry has been actively pursuing national initiatives to strengthen the intellectual property and trademark sectors, collaborating with both governmental and private entities. Key initiatives include the establishment of a Geographical Indications (GI) system to protect unique national products, the UAE’s accession to the Madrid Protocol in 2021 to facilitate international trademark registration for SMEs, and the launch of the ‘One Day TM Initiative’ for expedited trademark registration. Further efforts involve the ‘Beyond 71’ forum to empower local trademarks through innovation and the integration of AI technologies into intellectual property services.
New Fee Structure and Exemptions Introduced
The Cabinet’s decision introduces a revised fee structure for 28 trademark services, incorporating amendments, service consolidations, and the introduction of new offerings. This includes a new pathway for initial review of trademark registration applications, allowing examination within a single day.
Notable fee adjustments include:
- Filing an infringement complaint: AED 2,250
- Grievance by the party against whom an objection was dismissed: AED 7,500
Seven new trademark services have also been approved:
- Registration of a geographical indication: AED 6,500
- One-day trademark examination: AED 2,250
- Grievance against trademark cancellation: AED 5,000
- Conversion of a national trademark to international: AED 400
- Trademark agent registration renewal (branch of a foreign company): AED 7,500
- Grievance against trademark registration refusal: AED 5,000
- Examination and study of claims: AED 2,250
Additionally, the decision consolidates fees for four trademark renewal services:
- Renewal of trademark protection period during the final year: AED 5,750
- Renewal within six months after protection period ends: AED 6,500
- Renewal of monitoring and inspection mark during the final year: AED 8,250
- Renewal of monitoring and inspection mark within six months after protection period ends: AED 9,750
Crucially, the decision includes provisions for exemptions:
- Members of the National Program for Small and Medium Enterprises will receive a 50 percent partial exemption on trademark service fees. This initiative aligns with the national campaign ‘The Emirates: The Startup Capital of the World.’
- People of Determination will benefit from a full exemption, reflecting the UAE’s commitment to facilitating their access to a flexible business environment.
Fees will be collected per category for applications involving a single category, and separately for each category in multi-category applications, even if submitted as one application.
These regulatory enhancements are part of the broader ‘We the UAE 2031’ vision, positioning the nation as a global hub for the new economy and fostering an environment of innovation and creativity.