TRADEMARK INFRINGEMENTS

The penalties for trademark infringements in the UAE vary depending on the type and severity of the
infringement. According to the web search results, some of the possible penalties are:

Fine of at least AED 5,000 and/or imprisonment for infringing the exclusive rights of a trademark owner
without authorization or consent1234.

Fine of at least AED 50,000 and/or imprisonment for at least three months for copying, imitating, or
translating a registered trademark or using it in bad faith1.

Fine of at least AED 50,000 and/or imprisonment for at least three months for selling, offering, or
holding with the intent of selling products or services with infringed trademarks1.

Fine of not less than AED 5,000 and not more than AED 100,000 and/or imprisonment for not less than
three months and not more than two years for infringing the rights of a patent owner534.

Fine of at least AED 50,000 and/or imprisonment for at least three months for infringing the rights of a
collective mark or a geographical indication1.

These penalties are based on the Federal Trademarks Law No. 36 of 2021, which is the new UAE
Trademarks Law that was issued in late 2021 to coincide with the 50th Anniversary of the founding of
the UAE5. The new law introduces some changes and improvements to the previous law, such as
expanding the definition of a trademark, increasing the protection for well-known marks, making
provision for partial or full cancellation of trademarks, and removing the requirement to publish in two
local newspapers5.

To register a trademark, you need to submit an online application via the Ministry of Economy’s
website1. You can also use the ministry’s eServices to apply for trademark services2. The registration
process involves several steps, such as:

 Examination of the application by the ministry

 Publication of the trademark in two local newspapers and the Official Gazette

 Objection period of 30 days from the date of publication

 Issuance of the certificate of registration

The web search results indicate that it may take about 13 to 18 months to get a trademark in the UAE32.
However, this may vary depending on the complexity and uniqueness of your trademark and whether
there are any objections or oppositions from other parties.

To register a trade name, you need to apply through the Department of Economic Development (DED) in
the emirate where you want to establish your business. You can check the availability of your desired
trade name through the DED website or app4. The registration process and reservation of trade name
can all be completed within 24 hours5. Following the approval of the trade name, you can move on to
initial approval of the licence and start the company formation process
To file complaints or objections in case of any violation of your rights, you need to identify the relevant
authority and procedure depending on the nature and location of the violation.

If the violation occurred in the UAE, you can refer to the Ministry of Economy, which is the competent
authority to register and protect intellectual property in the UAE1. The ministry’s website provides
information on how to file complaints or objections for trademark infringements1. You can also use the
ministry’s eServices to apply for trademark services.

If the violation occurred outside the UAE, you may need to contact the data protection authority or the
civil rights division of the country where the violation took place. You can use the web search results to
find more information on how to submit a complaint to different authorities around the world 234. You
should also check the applicable laws and regulations of that country to determine your rights and
obligations.

To register a trademark, you need to submit an online application via the Ministry of Economy’s
website1. You can also use the ministry’s eServices to apply for trademark services2. To register a trade
name, you need to apply through the Department of Economic Development (DED) in the emirate where
you want to establish your business. You can check the availability of your desired trade name through
the DED website or app3.

You should also be aware that the trade name and trademarks systems in the UAE have for many years
allowed for conflicting names to co-exist. This means that you may encounter some difficulties or
disputes if your trade name or trademark is similar or identical to another existing one. Therefore, it is
advisable to conduct a thorough search and analysis before applying for either of them3.

To protect your trade mark and project name in Dubai, UAE, you need to follow the steps and
requirements of the Ministry of Economy, which is the competent authority to register and protect
intellectual property in the UAE1.

According to the UAE Law on Trademarks, a trademark is any distinguished form of names, words,
signatures, letters, figures, graphics, logos, titles, hallmarks, seals, pictures, patterns, announcements,
packs or any other marks or group of marks1. To register a trademark, you need to submit an online
application via the ministry’s website1. The registration documents include:

Trademark logo

A copy of the commercial licence

Power of Attorney

Priority document

Passport copy

Other attachments
You can read the user manual for trademarks (PDF in Arabic) on the website of Ministry of Economy1.
You can also use the ministry’s eServices to apply for trademark services2.

The UAE Law on Trademarks also specifies who can register a trademark and what are the rights and
obligations of the trademark owner1. You should also be aware of the possible trademark infringements
and how to file complaints or objections in case of any violation of your rights1.

To protect your project name, you may also consider registering it as a trade name. A trade name is the
name under which a company conducts its business and which distinguishes it from other companies in
the same field. The trade name should not be identical or similar to any existing trade name or
trademark in the UAE3. To register a trade name, you need to apply through the Department of
Economic Development (DED) in the emirate where you want to establish your business. You can check
the availability of your desired trade name through the DED website or app. You can also read more
about the UAE Law Perspective on Trade Names on this article3.