Trademark Search Services
Registered Tax Agent Regulated by the FTA (Federal Tax Authority)
Trademark Search Services in the UAE
Identify Conflicts Before You File, Not After
A trademark search checks existing registrations before you apply, reducing the risk of rejection or costly disputes.
Our trademark search services cover:
- Local, regional, and international database screening
- Common law and online source checks
- Risk assessment before MOE submission
Farahat & Co. provides accurate, comprehensive trademark search services to support confident filing decisions across the UAE.
Protect Your Brand Name
What is a Trademark Search?
Before submitting a trademark application, a thorough preliminary search of relevant brand databases is essential.
A trademark search helps you:
- Identify existing marks that are identical or similar to your proposed trademark
- Assess whether your mark is likely to be approved by the Ministry of Economy
- Reduce the risk of conflict with an existing registered brand owner
Why this matters:
Applying to register a mark that conflicts with an existing trademark can be costly, particularly if the existing owner takes legal action for infringement. A search conducted before filing identifies these risks early, giving you the opportunity to adjust your mark, your application strategy, or your goods and services classification before committing to the registration fees.
Trademark Services We Offer
Why a Trademark Search Matters Before Filing
Ministry of Economy approval of a trademark application does not guarantee that your logo, mark, or slogan is genuinely original.
Key risks without a proper search:
- Confusingly similar marks may exist in databases not checked during a basic filing review
- Pre-published applications may create conflicts that only surface after you have already invested in your brand
- Disputes raised after registration are far more expensive and time-consuming to resolve than issues caught before filing
Our approach:
Our trademark search specialists examine both regional and global databases for potentially conflicting marks, including pending applications that have not yet been published. This proactive screening gives you a realistic view of your mark’s chances of approval before you commit to the registration process.
The UAE Trademark Examination and Opposition Process
Understanding how the Ministry of Economy reviews applications helps explain why a search matters so much before filing.
The examination process generally involves:
- Initial Assessment:
Expert examiners assess whether a proposed mark is eligible for registration when an application is submitted to the Ministry of Economy. - Use Evaluation:
Once an application clears initial assessment, it is evaluated for its planned and existing use in connection with the relevant goods and services. - Opposition Period:
After approval, the mark enters an opposition period during which third parties can contest its eligibility for registration. A conflicting mark identified during a pre-filing search is far less likely to trigger a costly opposition at this later stage.
Our Trademark Search Services
Farahat & Co. provides trademark search support built on accuracy, breadth, and direct industry experience.
- Quality Reporting:
Our brand professionals cross-reference proposed marks against precise source data, examining Ministry of Economy and international records to identify and address potential problems before any application is submitted. - Comprehensive Coverage:
Our search analysts review local, regional, and international trademark databases to identify confusingly similar or identical marks registered for comparable goods and services. - Common Law Search:
Beyond official registries, our service also assesses traditional and online sources, including general and industry-specific databases, websites, search engines, and domain names, to capture unregistered but actively used marks that could still pose a conflict risk.
Types of Trademark Searches We Conduct
Different search types serve different purposes, and a thorough review typically combines several approaches.
- Identical Mark Search
Checks for trademarks that are exactly the same as your proposed mark, the most straightforward type of conflict to identify. - Similarity Search
Identifies marks that are visually, phonetically, or conceptually similar to your proposed trademark, even where the wording is not identical. - Class-Specific Search
Reviews marks registered under the same or related goods and services classifications, since conflicts are generally assessed within relevant categories rather than across all registered marks. - Common Law Search
Extends beyond official registries to cover unregistered marks in active commercial use, captured through web searches, domain registrations, and industry-specific sources.
Why Choose Farahat & Co. for Trademark Search
Protecting your intellectual property starts with knowing exactly what you are up against before you file.
Farahat & Co. provides:
- A dedicated team of IP and search specialists with direct experience across UAE and international databases
- Search results that are accurate, well-documented, and easy to act on
- Combined coverage of official registries and common law sources for a complete risk picture
- Direct guidance on how search findings should shape your application strategy
- Seamless handoff into our trademark registration service once your search results are reviewed
We work across the UAE and several other countries, giving clients consistent, dependable search quality wherever their brand protection needs take them.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a trademark search and why is it necessary?
A trademark search is a review of existing trademark registrations and applications conducted before filing, to check whether your proposed mark conflicts with marks already in use or registered. It helps assess the likelihood of approval and reduces the risk of disputes after registration.
Does Ministry of Economy approval guarantee my trademark is original?
No. Approval confirms your application meets the Ministry’s filing requirements, but it does not independently verify that your mark is entirely free of conflicts with unregistered or pending marks. A dedicated search provides a far more complete risk assessment.
What databases are checked during a trademark search?
A thorough search covers local, regional, and international trademark databases, along with common law sources such as websites, search engines, domain names, and industry-specific registries to capture both registered and unregistered marks in active use.
What is the difference between an identical mark search and a similarity search?
An identical mark search checks for exact matches to your proposed trademark. A similarity search goes further, identifying marks that are visually, phonetically, or conceptually similar, even where the wording differs, since these can still create grounds for objection.
What is a common law trademark search?
A common law search looks beyond official registries to identify unregistered marks in active commercial use. These marks can still pose a legal risk, particularly if the owner has established prior use in the same market or industry.
What happens if a conflicting mark is found during the search?
If a conflicting mark is identified, you can adjust your proposed mark, refine your goods and services classification, or reconsider your branding strategy before filing, avoiding wasted registration fees and reducing the risk of opposition later in the process.
How does a trademark search relate to the opposition period?
After a trademark application is approved and published, third parties have an opportunity to oppose it during the opposition period. A thorough pre-filing search significantly reduces the likelihood of a successful opposition by identifying conflicts before they become a formal dispute.
Can Farahat & Co. conduct a trademark search before I file my application?
Yes. Farahat & Co. provides comprehensive trademark search services covering official registries and common law sources across the UAE and international jurisdictions. Contact us before filing to assess your mark’s registration prospects and reduce the risk of future disputes.
