Revised Rules on Trademark Filing Procedure in UAE: You must know

The rules around late document submission for UAE trademark applications have changed materially since they were first relaxed in 2021, and the current framework, introduced through Administrative Decision No. 2 of 2026, is considerably more flexible than what applied even a year ago. Businesses relying on outdated guidance about a fixed “30-day grace period” are working from a rule that no longer reflects current practice.

This guide covers the current Power of Attorney submission timeline, how the 2026 extension mechanism works, priority document filing rules, and what hasn’t changed under this framework.

Power of Attorney Submission: The Current Timeline

UAE trademark filings require a duly notarized, and where applicable legalized, Power of Attorney (PoA). Under the current framework, applicants have 90 days from the filing date to submit this document, a substantial increase from the 30-day window that applied under the original 2021 relaxation. Previously, failing to submit the PoA within the applicable window resulted in automatic rejection of the application, with no right of appeal.

Administrative Decision No. 2 of 2026, issued by the UAE Ministry of Economy and Tourism (MOET) on 25 March 2026, introduced temporary procedural relief addressing the practical challenges applicants face obtaining certified and legalized documents within statutory deadlines.

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How the 2026 Extension Mechanism Works

Where the 90-day window expires and the legalized PoA still hasn’t arrived, applicants can request further monthly extensions rather than facing automatic rejection. To use this mechanism, the applicant or their authorized representative must submit a written request for an additional 30-day extension to the Trademark Office before the current granted period expires. This process can be repeated monthly, provided each request is submitted on time and the application remains otherwise compliant. No additional official fees apply to these extensions.

This is a meaningfully more forgiving system than the original 2021 rule, which offered a single, non-renewable 30-day grace period, missing that window meant the application was considered lapsed. Under the current framework, an applicant genuinely struggling to obtain a legalized PoA, common where the applicant is based overseas and legalization involves multiple government layers, has an ongoing path to keep the application alive rather than a hard cutoff.

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What “Legalized” Power of Attorney Actually Means

A legalized PoA requires notarization and, for foreign applicants, legalization up to Embassy or Consulate level, followed by local legalization from the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs. For local UAE applicants, notarization before a local notary is mandatory, without the additional foreign embassy legalization step. This multi-step process is exactly why the current 90-day window plus monthly extension mechanism exists, legalization genuinely can take longer than a single fixed deadline reasonably accommodates, particularly for applicants navigating multiple jurisdictions’ notarization and consular processes.

What Hasn’t Changed: Oppositions and Appeals

The late-filing flexibility applies specifically to new trademark applications. Submitting a legalized PoA late is not permitted for oppositions and appeals to MOET, these proceedings must be filed with a fully executed PoA from the outset. Post-registration applications and renewal filings similarly fall outside this specific extension mechanism.

Priority Document Filing

Consistent with Paris Convention requirements, a priority document must generally be submitted within three months of the priority application’s filing date in the UAE, along with certified Arabic and English translations. No official fee applies specifically for late submission of the priority document itself, though applicants should confirm current requirements directly with MOET given how frequently procedural details have been updated recently.

Understanding Priority Filing for Trademarks

UAE trademark registration operates on a first-to-file system, objections based on earlier unregistered use are unlikely to succeed as a defense. Where an applicant hasn’t yet started using a brand name but wants to protect it, filing an application stating the intention to use the mark for specific goods or services is the standard approach, protecting the applicant’s rights before market launch and signaling the owner’s genuine plan to use the mark in connection with their business.

Other Recent Procedural Changes Worth Knowing

Beyond the PoA extension mechanism, MOET adopted the 13th edition of the WIPO Nice Classification for domestic filings from 27 January 2026, meaning applications filed from that date must use the updated class content. A One Day TM Initiative, introduced in October 2025, allows expedited fast-track examination for applicants who pay the relevant fee and meet the technical conditions. Government fees were restructured under Cabinet Decision No. 112 of 2023 and further updated in the October 2025 reform, with the standard cost for filing, publication, and registration of one mark in one class currently around AED 6,500, plus additional fees for fast-track examination or agent services.

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