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On 31 March 2020, the UAE Ministry of Economy announced a significant reduction in the official fees for 26 different trademark services, pursuant to UAE Cabinet Resolution No. 20 of 2020. The fee reductions have come into effect on 5 April 2020. This is the second year in a row that the Ministry of Economy has reduced its fees, with the last reduction announced pursuant to Cabinet Decree No. 15 of 2019, and is in line with other financial and economic relief measures that the UAE government has provided businesses and individuals in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
What have been further reduced?
Under the new trademark fee structure, the official fees have further been reduced by on average between 25% and 30%, which will give a significant boost to brand owners.
The fee reductions apply to a wide range of the most used trademark services, including official searches, trademark filings, publications, registrations, renewals and oppositions.
The new fee structure also applies to trademark applications that are pending, including applications that are awaiting examination, as well as publication and registration fees.
The UAE has long been viewed as an expensive jurisdiction for trademark services. The new fee structure is more competitive in the global market and should reduce the pressure on brand owners allowing them to stretch their budgets further to protect their trademark portfolios, which will be increasingly important over the coming 12 months.
What’s next?
If you would like additional information on the official fees and reductions for each type of trademark service, or assistance with trademarks in the UAE or globally, please contact Tarek Saad and Mona Matouri in the first instance, or your usual Baker McKenzie contact.
