What Indian brands should budget before entering the UAE market

By Prashant Kumar

As Indian brands expand across the Middle East, the UAE remains the first and most important market to secure trademark protection. But most founders underestimate how the timeline unfolds, what the UAE Ministry of Economy actually charges, and how attorney fees and publication costs stack up. The UAE isn’t expensive because of hidden extras — it’s expensive because the system requires multiple, non-negotiable government payments at different stages of the trademark lifecycle. With UAE enforcement becoming faster and more structured, understanding the total cost of ownership for a UAE trademark in 2026 is essential for budgeting, planning and sequencing your filings.

What is the UAE trademark registration timeline and total cost in 2026?

A smooth UAE filing typically takes 5–7 months in 2026. Costs include filing fees, examination fees, publication charges in the Trademark Journal and local newspaper, and the final registration fee. Total government fees per class generally fall between AED 8,500–10,500, excluding attorney costs.

Most Indian businesses look only at the filing fee — but UAE trademarks involve payments at different milestones. Add to that separate filings for each class (since UAE does not allow multi-class applications), and multi-vertical D2C brands must budget accordingly.

Understanding the UAE Trademark Timeline (2026)

The UAE timeline is structured, predictable and largely unchanged except for shorter processing speeds seen over the last 18 months.

1. Filing → Formal Examination (30–45 Days)

Your application enters formal verification immediately after filing. If your POA, applicant details or mark representation are incomplete, delays occur here. I’ve covered these early procedural pitfalls in detail in my pre-filing guide:
https://csatwork.in/uae-trademark-pre-filing-requirements-india/

2. Substantive Examination (30–45 Days)

Once documentation is accepted, examiners check:

Distinctiveness
Conflicts with earlier marks
Classification accuracy
Arabic transliteration conflicts
Compliance with local standards

If your classification is vague or overly broad, objections are common. This is why precise drafting — explained in my classification guide here — matters:
https://csatwork.in/choose-right-uae-trademark-class/

A deeper breakdown of how filings actually move through the system is available in my filing-process walkthrough:
https://csatwork.in/uae-trademark-filing-process/

3. Publication & Opposition (30 Days)

If accepted, the mark is published in the UAE Trademark Journal and one local newspaper. A 30-day opposition windowfollows. This part of the process remains non-negotiable, and costs are payable regardless of objections.

4. Registration & Certificate Issuance (1–2 Weeks)

If no opposition is filed — or once resolved — the Ministry issues the certificate. With this, enforcement becomes quick and effective across DET, municipalities and UAE Customs.

For a high-level overview of what the UAE requires overall, my complete guide provides useful context:
https://csatwork.in/uae-trademark-registration-guide-indian-businesses/

Breakdown of UAE Trademark Costs in 2026

UAE trademark costs vary slightly depending on service providers, but government fees remain standard and predictable.

1. Filing Fee (Per Class)

Approx. AED 750–900

This covers submission and basic verification.

2. Examination Fee

Approx. AED 1,500–1,700

Charged when the application enters substantive review.

3. Publication Fee – Trademark Journal

Approx. AED 1,000–1,100

Mandatory for all accepted marks.

4. Publication Fee – Local Newspaper

Approx. AED 1,000–1,300

Separate from the Journal fee and must be paid even if objections are unlikely.

5. Registration Fee (Final Stage)

Approx. AED 5,000–5,500

Payable once opposition, if any, is cleared.

Total Government Fee Estimate (Per Class)

AED 8,500 – 10,500 (₹1.95 lakh – ₹2.4 lakh approx.)

Indian brands must note that UAE filings are per class. If your business needs three classes (e.g., Class 3 + 35 + 44), your government fees will multiply accordingly.

This is where planning early — especially if filing through Madrid — becomes essential.
For coordinated multi-country strategy, refer to my Madrid Protocol article:
https://csatwork.in/how-to-protect-your-brand-internationally-madrid-protocol-india/

Why UAE Trademark Costs Feel “High” Compared to India

Three reasons:

1. Multi-Class Restrictions

India allows multi-class filings. UAE does not.
This alone increases overall cost for multi-vertical brands.

2. Two-Stage Publication

Unlike India’s Journal-only publication, UAE mandates:

UAE Trademark Journal
and one local newspaper publication

3. Higher Final Registration Fee

The registration stage is significantly more expensive in the UAE compared to India.

When seen across a 10-year validity period, UAE trademarks are commercially reasonable — but budgeting must be realistic and structured.

FAQs

1. How long does UAE trademark registration take in 2026?

A smooth filing takes around 5–7 months, assuming no objections or oppositions. Formal examination (30–45 days), substantive examination (30–45 days), publication (30 days), and registration (1–2 weeks) form the typical sequence. Delays arise when classifications are vague or documents are incomplete.

2. Why does UAE trademark registration cost more than Indian registration?

UAE requires separate payments for filing, examination, two-stage publication and registration — all per class. India’s multi-class system and lower examination costs make it cheaper. UAE’s fees reflect its enforcement infrastructure and faster processing timelines.

3. Can Indian brands reduce cost by filing through Madrid Protocol?

Madrid streamlines administration but does not reduce UAE government fees. The Ministry of Economy still charges full national rates for each designated class. Madrid helps if you’re filing in multiple countries, but for UAE alone, national filing is often simpler.

4. Are there additional costs if an objection is issued?

Yes. While government fees don’t increase, attorney fees apply for drafting responses, evidence preparation and liaising with UAE examiners. Poor classification — explained in my detailed classification guide — is one of the main reasons objections arise.

5. Does UAE trademark registration need renewal fees?

Yes. Renewals are due every 10 years, with separate fees for renewal and publication. Costs for renewal are generally similar to or slightly higher than initial registration fees.

About the Author

Prashant Kumar is a Company Secretary, Published Author and Partner at Eclectic Legal, advising Indian and global companies on UAE trademark filing timelines, classification strategy, Madrid Protocol designations and GCC market-entry planning. His team helps brands budget, structure and execute UAE filings without procedural delays.
For consultations: +91-9821008011 | prashant@eclecticlegal.com