Patent in the United Arab Emirates

• Patent fees

Fees associated with filing patent applications in the United Arab Emirates, as well as other patent fees, are available in the fee calculator.

• Term for filing a patent application in the United Arab Emirates

• Filing requirements in the United Arab Emirates

A certified copy of the Priority Document and its Arabic and English translations should be filed within 90 days from the filing date, subject to an additional fee.

A clear scanned copy of the notarized Power of Attorney in Arabic or in English and Arabic must be submitted within 90 days from the filing date, subject to an additional fee. Legalization thereof is not required.

A notarized Deed of Assignment from the inventor(s) to the applicant if the applicant is not the inventor must be submitted within 90 days from the filing date, subject to an additional fee.

If the applicant is a corporate body, a notarized certificate of incorporation or articles of association together with Arabic translation is also required to be submitted within 90 days from the filing date, subject to an additional fee. Legalization thereof is not required.

• Examination of a UAE patent application

Once the formal requirements are completed and all required documents are submitted, the Patent Office will issue a formal and legal examination notice confirming acceptance of the application. A request for the payment of the examination fees will also be issued, which must be settled within 90 days from the date of receipt of the notification of the positive formal examination results.

It is possible to request expedited examination (subject to additional fees). Such a request may be filed immediately after the substantive examination fees have been paid, enabling the examination report to be issued within approximately 6 months.

Under the agreement between the UAE Patent Office and the Korean Patent Office, the latter is responsible for conducting the substantive examination of applications filed with the UAE Patent Office.

• Novelty grace period

The novelty of the invention is not disproved if the disclosure of the information about the invention was made within 12 months before filing of an application (if the priority is claimed before the priority date) by the inventor, or by the person who received this information from the inventor directly or indirectly.

• Grant and maintenance fees

A grant fee for patent registration in the UAE is not stipulated. Maintenance fees are due starting from the next year counted from the national filing date. Request should be made within three months before the due date. Request may still be made within three months from the due date without any surcharge, an extension for further three months is possible upon payment of a surcharge. 

• Duration of registration procedure

If the prosecution process goes smoothly, it takes an average of 2 years to obtain a patent in the UAE.

• Utility model

It is possible to obtain utility model protection under the UAE IP legislation. Utility models must be new, have an inventive step and be industrially applicable. The maximum protection period is ten years from the application filing date.

• Representation by a patent attorney

For foreign applicants, it is necessary to perform patent registration in the UAE through a registered Emirati patent attorney.

• Notes

1. Online Databases for the GCC Patents, UAE Patents.
2. The patent portal facilitates a maximum allowance of 50 claims within the patent application.

✓ Last verified: 26 March 2026 by MarkMirror Intellectual Property Services.
Please contact us if the above information is not in conformity with UAE IP Laws