UAE Cabinet Waives Industrial Property Fees for Student Inventors and People of Determination
Abu Dhabi, UAE – The UAE Cabinet has implemented a new resolution, effective September 14, 2026, to exempt student inventors and people of determination from a range of industrial property service fees. This strategic move aims to bolster the nation’s innovation landscape and enhance access to intellectual property (IP) protection mechanisms.
Cabinet Resolution No. 136 of 2026 introduces full waivers for 29 distinct industrial property services. While all beneficiaries are exempt from fees for 20 services, specific exemptions apply to each group.
Key Exemptions Detailed
Under the new regulatory framework, both student inventors and people of determination will benefit from fee waivers for 11 core services. These include applications for patent registration, industrial design registration, integrated circuit layouts, and utility certificates. Additionally, the waivers cover the initial substantive examination and subsequent re-examination of utility certificates, publication of registration, and the annual protection fees for the second, third, fourth, and fifth years. The original charges for these services previously ranged from Dh100 to Dh1,000.
Furthermore, people of determination will receive exemptions for an additional nine services, which previously incurred fees between Dh1,000 and Dh9,000. Student inventors are also granted waivers for nine other services, with prior costs ranging from Dh500 to Dh4,500.
Strategic Impact on Innovation and IP Ecosystem
The Ministry of Economy and Tourism (MOET) highlighted that these fee waivers are designed to lower the financial barriers associated with protecting innovations. The initiative is expected to encourage students and people of determination to convert their research and creative outputs into protected industrial property assets, paving the way for further development and investment opportunities.
A senior official from the Intellectual Property Sector at MOET noted that the resolution will significantly increase participation in the national IP ecosystem. This measure is crucial for solidifying the UAE’s standing as a prominent global hub for creativity and the new economy.
The Ministry further confirmed its ongoing efforts to advance the digital infrastructure supporting patent, industrial design, and utility certificate services, ensuring a streamlined and efficient process for applicants.
These regulatory enhancements coincide with a period of growth in the UAE’s IP landscape. The Ministry recorded a nine per cent increase in patent applications during the first half of 2026 compared to the same period in 2025. Utility certificate applications also saw a substantial rise of 21.43 per cent over the same timeframe. The total number of registered applications for patents, utility certificates, and industrial designs in the country now stands at 22,184.