What Indian brands must do to keep UAE trademarks valid, enforceable and future-ready

By Prashant Kumar

The UAE is one of the most commercially valuable markets for Indian brands, and securing a trademark here is only the first milestone. The real responsibility begins after registration. In 2026, the UAE Ministry of Economy has tightened renewal timelines, increased documentary scrutiny, and strengthened enforcement mechanisms — making continuous maintenance as important as the initial filing. Many Indian brands remain focused on getting the certificate but overlook the renewal cycle, use requirements, publication obligations and late-fee risks. This guide explains everything your business needs to know to keep your UAE trademark active and enforceable throughout its 10-year life cycle.

If you want to revisit how UAE filings move from submission to registration before renewal considerations arise, my filing-process guide is a good starting point:
https://csatwork.in/uae-trademark-filing-process/
A more holistic understanding of the UAE trademark system is available here:
https://csatwork.in/uae-trademark-registration-guide-indian-businesses/

How does UAE trademark renewal work?

UAE trademarks must be renewed every 10 years from the filing date. Renewal requires submitting a renewal request, paying government fees, and completing mandatory publication. Late renewal is allowed with penalties, but missing the grace period results in cancellation and potential loss of rights.

Renewal is procedural, but the implications are serious. UAE authorities take non-renewal strictly, and recovery after lapse is expensive and uncertain.

Understanding the 10-Year Renewal Cycle in the UAE

A UAE trademark is valid for 10 years from the date of filing, not the date of registration — a distinction many Indian businesses overlook. When renewal comes due, the Ministry sends no reminder. The responsibility lies entirely with the owner or the authorised representative. Many Indian brands expand aggressively in the region, open distribution channels, onboard franchisees or sign e-commerce partnerships — only to realise their mark slipped into the late-renewal window unnoticed.

The renewal application itself is straightforward. But it must be filed with the same applicant entity, and the details must match the original registration. If your company has undergone restructuring, conversion, mergers or address changes, these must be updated before filing. My pre-filing requirements guide explains why consistent documentation is critical at every stage:
https://csatwork.in/uae-trademark-pre-filing-requirements-india/

Once the renewal request is filed, the Ministry reviews the application for procedural accuracy. Classification does not change, and the mark cannot be altered; only renewal fees and publication fees apply. However, documentary inconsistencies can delay renewal, especially when the ownership structure has changed or when the applicant name no longer aligns with the initial filing.

The Renewal Process in 2026 — What Actually Happens

Once your renewal request is submitted, the Ministry places the mark into the renewal examination queue. This is not a substantive review; it is a procedural verification. The Ministry checks:

Whether the request was filed within time
Whether details match the registration
Whether the applicant has authority (through POA)
Whether the renewal fee and publication fee have been correctly paid

Errors at this stage often originate from earlier filing problems. If classification was drafted incorrectly at the initial stage or if documents were inconsistent, renewal becomes unnecessarily complicated. For reference, my article on avoiding rejections explains how these issues propagate:
https://csatwork.in/avoid-uae-trademark-rejection/

After internal processing, the renewal is approved and sent for publication in the UAE Trademark Journal. Publication is mandatory even for renewals and must be completed before the renewal certificate is issued. Understanding the cost flow — including publication fees — is helpful here:
https://csatwork.in/uae-trademark-costs-timeline/

Once publication is done, the Ministry issues the renewed certificate, restoring the mark’s validity for another 10 years.

Grace Period, Late Renewal & Lapse Risks

The UAE provides a 6-month grace period after the renewal deadline. During this window, you can still renew the trademark by paying late fees. If this period is missed, the trademark is cancelled, and your only option is refiling as a fresh application. Refiling comes with two significant risks:

The mark may face new conflicts that did not exist 10 years earlier
Parallel importers or competitors may file first during your lapse window

In practice, once a trademark lapses in the UAE, the commercial consequences are immediate. Enforcement actions stop. Customs won’t record the mark. DET will not conduct raids. Online platforms such as Amazon AE and Noon won’t honour takedown requests. My enforcement guide explains how certificate validity affects enforcement power:
https://csatwork.in/uae-trademark-enforcement/

This is why timely renewal is not merely a compliance exercise — it is fundamental to commercial continuity.

Does Use Matter? Understanding Non-Use Risks

Unlike some jurisdictions that aggressively cancel marks for non-use, the UAE does not automatically cancel marks for non-use within a fixed number of years. However, a registered trademark can still be challenged for non-use before the courts if an opponent proves lack of genuine use. In competitive sectors, this issue can arise during opposition, conflict or litigation. My objections-and-oppositions guide explains how opponents raise such points:
https://csatwork.in/uae-trademark-objections-oppositions/

Maintaining some form of genuine commercial use, backed by invoices, marketing material or distribution activity, is a prudent strategy if you expect to rely on the mark for enforcement.

Impact of Madrid Protocol on UAE Renewals

If your UAE trademark was filed through the Madrid Protocol, renewal can be managed centrally through WIPO. However, UAE government fees remain identical, and publication obligations still apply. Madrid simplifies administration but does not reduce UAE costs or standards. My Madrid Protocol guide explains the mechanics of multi-country renewals in detail:
https://csatwork.in/how-to-protect-your-brand-internationally-madrid-protocol-india/

FAQs

1. When exactly is UAE trademark renewal due?

Renewal is due every 10 years from the filing date, not the registration date. Many Indian businesses miscalculate this and unknowingly enter the late-renewal penalty window. Tracking the filing date is essential.

2. What documents are required for renewal?

Usually just a renewal request, POA (if submitting through an agent), and fee payment. If the ownership entity has changed, supporting documents must be updated first to avoid rejection.

3. What happens if I miss the renewal deadline?

You enter a 6-month grace period where late fees apply. If you miss the grace period too, the trademark is cancelled and must be refiled fresh — losing all previous priority and enforcement rights.

4. Do I need to show use for renewal?

No, use is not a renewal condition. However, non-use can be raised in cancellation or opposition proceedings, making it advisable to maintain genuine use evidence.

5. Does renewal affect enforcement rights?

Yes. Enforcement authorities like DET, Customs and online platforms rely on valid certificates. A lapsed mark cannot be enforced, and takedown or raid requests stop until renewal is completed.

About the Author

Prashant Kumar is a Company Secretary, Published Author and Partner at Eclectic Legal, specialising in UAE trademark strategy, renewals, enforcement, GCC brand protection and cross-border IP portfolio management. He advises D2C brands, manufacturers, distributors and franchise businesses expanding into the Middle East.
For consultations: +91-9821008011 | prashant@eclecticlegal.com