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UAE · Intellectual Property

Intellectual Property Law

Across the UAE, the GCC and India, we handle the full intellectual-property lifecycle — advisory, registration, protection and enforcement — covering trademarks, patents, copyright, industrial designs and trade secrets. As registered trademark and patent agents, we file directly with the UAE Ministry of Economy, and extend protection internationally through the Madrid Protocol, the PCT and a trusted associate network for non-Madrid jurisdictions.

Where we file & protect
Ministry of Economy
UAE trademark, patent & copyright registration
Decree-Law 36 of 2021
The UAE trademark statute, with the wider IP laws
Madrid, PCT & Paris
Routes outward from a UAE filing
GCC & non-Madrid
Filings via a trusted associate network (Kuwait, Saudi Arabia)
01 — Our services

Across every IP domain.

From registration and protection to licensing and enforcement — for trademarks, patents, copyright, designs and trade secrets across the UAE, the GCC and beyond.

01

Trademarks & brand protection

Securing and enforcing brand rights across the UAE and the GCC, and extending them internationally — filed through the Ministry of Economy and the Madrid Protocol.
  • Trademark search & clearance — pre-filing availability searches and conflict assessments confirming a mark is distinctive and registrable before filing with the Ministry of Economy.
  • Filing & registration — national filing and registration with the Ministry of Economy, with GCC and global protection through the Madrid Protocol.
  • Facilitation across the GCC — national filings handled through local associates where local filing or representation is required.
  • Renewals & maintenance — renewals, updates and portfolio maintenance; UAE marks run for 10 years and are renewable.
  • Trademark watch & monitoring — monitoring the UAE and international markets for infringement and unauthorised use.
  • Opposition, cancellation & enforcement — administrative and judicial proceedings before the Ministry of Economy and the UAE courts.
  • Licensing & assignment — structuring, negotiating and recording licensing, franchising and assignment agreements.
  • Cease-and-desist actions — formal notices to halt unauthorised use or infringement.
  • IP due diligence — reviewing brand and IP portfolios in M&A, investment and licensing transactions.
02

Patents & invention protection

Safeguarding technological innovation through the UAE Ministry of Economy, and internationally via the PCT and the Paris Convention.
  • Patent search & analysis — novelty, prior-art and freedom-to-operate searches assessing patentability and clearing infringement risk.
  • Patent drafting & filing — drafting specifications, claims and drawings to UAE and international filing standards.
  • National & international filings — filings through the UAE Ministry of Economy and, internationally, the PCT system and the Paris Convention route.
  • Patent prosecution — correspondence and examination with the IP authorities through to grant.
  • Technology transfer & licensing — licensing, assignment and R&D collaboration agreements across the UAE and cross-border.
  • Patent enforcement — infringement disputes and enforcement actions before the UAE courts.
03

Copyright & creative works

Protecting the originality and value of creative works under UAE copyright law.
  • Copyright registration & advisory — for software and mobile apps, artworks, music, films and written works.
  • Software & app protection — securing source code, user interfaces and digital content for IT companies, app developers and startups.
  • Licensing, assignment & commission agreements — defining ownership, distribution and permitted use of copyrighted material.
  • Infringement & takedown procedures — removing infringing content from online platforms and pursuing civil remedies before the UAE courts.
  • Portfolio management — ongoing management and renewal of large creative-asset portfolios for corporates and creators.
04

Industrial designs

Registration and protection of the visual features of a product through the UAE Ministry of Economy.
  • Design registration — protecting the shape, configuration and ornamentation of a product.
  • Enforcement — action against unauthorised copying or imitation of a registered design.
05

Trade secrets & confidential information

Securing business know-how — as valuable as your trademarks and patents — through preventive frameworks and active enforcement.
  • Non-disclosure agreements & confidentiality policies — internal frameworks tailored to the business.
  • Protection of trade secrets — formulas, processes and proprietary information.
  • Misappropriation & breach — investigations and action on breach of confidentiality, including at employee level.

Last reviewed: July 2026. This page provides general legal information, not legal advice on any specific matter.

The UAE, the GCC, India & beyond
One portfolio, every jurisdiction that matters.

Our coverage spans the UAE, the GCC, India, the Madrid member countries and key international jurisdictions, supported by a trusted associate network for non-Madrid territories such as Kuwait and Saudi Arabia. For businesses moving across the India–UAE corridor, a single relationship manages the whole portfolio — filing, renewals, watch and enforcement.

Our India IP practice →

02 — Representative experience

A sample of recent matters.

01

Secured trademarks for UAE and international clients across the GCC, India and Madrid member countries, facilitating filings for non-Madrid jurisdictions through our associate network.

02

Advised UAE-based software companies and media creators on copyright registration and protection — covering app interfaces, website content and media-design portfolios.

03

Supported technology startups and industrial clients on patent filings and technology-transfer arrangements across the UAE, the GCC and India.

04

Implemented confidentiality protocols for industrial and service-sector clients and acted on employee-level IP breaches.

Representative matters. Some details are withheld for client confidentiality.
03 — How we work

What to expect.

A registration is only as good as its enforceability — so we build that in from the search stage.

01

Assessment & search

Clearance, novelty or freedom-to-operate searches, and IP portfolio risk reviews across the target jurisdictions.

02

Strategy

A customised filing, protection or enforcement roadmap calibrated to your objectives and budget.

03

Implementation

Filing, registration, prosecution, licensing, assignment or enforcement, before the relevant authorities and courts.

04

Ongoing management

Renewals and recordals, watch services, portfolio monitoring and dispute support.

04 — Frequently asked questions

UAE IP, answered.

What constitutes a trademark in the UAE?
Under UAE law (Federal Decree-Law No. 36 of 2021 on Trademarks), a trademark is any distinctive form — names, words, signatures, letters, figures, graphics, logos, packaging or any other mark or combination — used, or intended to be used, to distinguish the goods or services of one entity from another.
Do I have to register a trademark in the UAE for protection?
While use of a mark can give some rights, registration is strongly recommended. Registration with the Ministry of Economy provides a presumption of ownership and is the main basis for enforcement.
What is the term of protection, and how is it renewed?
A registered trademark is protected for 10 years from the filing date and can be renewed indefinitely in subsequent 10-year periods, subject to renewal fees and compliance.
What is the timeline and process for trademark registration in the UAE?
Applications are filed through the Ministry of Economy's portal — via a registered agent for foreign owners — and proceed through examination and publication, with a decision generally within around 90 days, absent opposition.