Trademarks, copyright and brand protection across the MENA region and Asia
Intellectual property lawyers in Dubai for trademarks and brand protection
Launching a brand, expanding into new markets or finding your products copied? Althea & Jacobs is a team of intellectual property lawyers in Dubai who search and register your trademarks, defend them against oppositions and copycats, and enforce your rights against counterfeits across the MENA region and Asia.
- Trademark search and registration in the UAE
- Oppositions, renewals and portfolio management
- Counterfeit and infringement action
- A written fee quote for each stage
Reviewed by Althea Edwina Rozario, Managing Partner, Althea & Jacobs Legal Consultants. Last updated .
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Meet your intellectual property lawyers in Dubai
Intellectual property is where Althea & Jacobs began, and trademarks remain at the heart of our practice. Led by Managing Partner Althea Edwina Rozario, our Dubai team clears and registers brands, manages trademark portfolios for regional and multinational companies, and takes action when those brands are copied or counterfeited.
Our consultants manage trademark portfolios and IP enforcement across the MENA region and Asia, so your brand is protected by people who know both the registries and the markets where infringement happens.
What does an intellectual property lawyer in Dubai do?
An intellectual property lawyer in Dubai protects the names, logos, content and designs your business relies on. They search and register trademarks with the Ministry of Economy and Tourism, answer objections and oppositions, renew and manage your portfolio, and take action against copying and counterfeits through customs, the economic departments and, together with UAE National Advocates, the courts.
Why you should register your brand before you launch
The UAE grants trademark rights to whoever files first. If a competitor, a former distributor or a trademark squatter registers your name before you do, you can find yourself unable to use your own brand, or paying to buy it back.
Registration is also the starting point for enforcement. Customs recordation, complaints against counterfeit sellers and most infringement claims all depend on a valid UAE registration covering the right goods and services.
That is why our intellectual property lawyers in Dubai start with a search and a filing strategy, before you print packaging, sign a distributor or spend on marketing.
Our intellectual property services in Dubai
Our IP lawyers in Dubai protect your brand at every stage, from the first search to enforcement against counterfeits, in the UAE and across the MENA region and Asia.
IP matters we handle in the UAE and across the region
Every brand faces different risks. We look at what you own, where you trade and who might copy you, then advise on the protection that makes commercial sense.
Brand names and logos
Registering the words, logos and slogans customers know you by.
Ministry objections
Responding when the Ministry raises concerns about your application.
Third-party oppositions
Opposing a conflicting mark, or defending your own application.
Non-use cancellations
Clearing unused marks from the register, or protecting yours.
Renewals and lapsed marks
Keeping registrations alive and restoring them within the grace period.
Counterfeit goods in the market
Investigations and complaints against sellers of fake products.
Seizures at the border
Customs recordation and complaints against infringing shipments.
Online copying and listings
Lookalike websites, social media accounts and marketplace listings.
Copyright in content and software
Protecting written content, photographs, software and creative work.
Industrial designs
Protecting the look of a product, alongside its trademark.
Brand portfolios across the region
Audits, filing programmes and renewals across the MENA region and Asia.
Licences and franchise brands
Agreements that let others use your brand on your terms.
Not sure whether your brand is protected? Describe it in confidence and an IP lawyer will tell you where you stand.
Check my brandHow to register a trademark in the UAE
Trademarks are registered at the federal level with the Ministry of Economy and Tourism, so one registration covers all seven Emirates for the classes you choose. Owners located outside the UAE file through a registered trademark agent.
Search and choose your classes
Search the register for identical or similar marks, and list the goods and services you need protected in each class.
File and pay the examination fee
File the application online and pay AED 750 per class, or AED 2,250 for expedited examination within one business day.
Acceptance and publication
If the Ministry accepts the mark, a AED 750 fee publishes it in the Trademark Bulletin, which opens a 30-day opposition period.
Registration and certificate
After the opposition period, the AED 5,000 registration fee is paid and the certificate follows, protecting the mark for 10 years from the filing date.
How we stop counterfeits and copying, step by step
Trademarks in the UAE are protected under Federal Decree-Law No. 36 of 2021, and enforcement runs through customs, the economic departments of each emirate and the courts. Here is how we take action when your brand is copied.
Evidence and investigation
We confirm what is being copied and by whom, through market surveys, test purchases and dated records of online listings.
Cease-and-desist letter
A formal letter sets out your rights and gives the other side a clear chance to stop before further action.
Customs recordation and border action
Your registered mark is recorded with customs, so suspect shipments can be stopped and complaints filed against them.
Complaints and market action
Complaints to the economic authorities, such as the Department of Economy and Tourism in Dubai, can lead to inspections and seizures of fake goods.
Court action
Where needed, claims for an injunction and compensation are brought before the courts together with our UAE National Advocates.
Before you file a trademark in the UAE: what to prepare
- The mark in its final form, whether a word, a logo or both, including any colours you want to protect.
- A list of your goods and services, including the ones you plan to offer soon, so the right classes are covered.
- The owner’s details, exactly as they appear on the trade licence or company documents of the person or company who will own the mark.
- A power of attorney where the owner is outside the UAE, notarised and legally translated.
- Any earlier filing abroad, if you want the UAE application to rely on it.
Found someone copying your brand? Do this first
- Do not contact the other side before you have taken advice.
- Save the evidence: dated screenshots, receipts, photographs and the product itself.
- Check whether your registration covers the goods or services being copied.
- Note where the goods are sold, stored or imported.
- Call an IP lawyer to review your options.
UAE intellectual property laws we work with
Intellectual property in the UAE is protected under federal law, so a registration with the Ministry of Economy and Tourism covers the whole country. Enforcement is handled locally by each emirate’s customs and economic departments, and by the courts. These are the laws we rely on most.
| Law | What it covers |
|---|---|
| Federal Decree-Law No. 36 of 2021 | Trademarks: registration, opposition, renewal, non-use cancellation and infringement, with its Executive Regulations in Cabinet Decision No. 57 of 2022 |
| Federal Decree-Law No. 38 of 2021 | Copyright and neighbouring rights: authors’ economic and moral rights, with optional registration |
| Federal Law No. 11 of 2021 | Industrial property rights: patents and industrial designs |
| Madrid Protocol | International trademark registration system, in force for the UAE since 28 December 2021 |
| Federal Decree-Law No. 42 of 2022, as amended | Civil Procedure Law: court claims, urgent orders and execution |
Why clients choose Althea & Jacobs as their IP law firm in Dubai
Trademarks are our roots
The firm began as an intellectual property practice, and brand protection is still at its core.
Enforcement, not just filing
We take action against counterfeits and copycats, from investigations to customs complaints and court claims.
Portfolios across the region
We manage filings and renewals across the MENA region and Asia, so your protection keeps pace with your growth.
Honest clearance advice
We tell you when a name is weak or risky before you spend money on it.
One firm for the whole business
Our corporate and commercial team and our litigation team work under one roof when IP touches the rest of your business.
Clear fees
A written quote for each stage, with the Ministry’s government fees shown separately.
How to choose the best IP lawyer in Dubai
A good IP lawyer in Dubai searches before filing, tells you honestly whether a mark is strong enough to protect, and can act when it is copied, not only when it is registered.
Use these questions when you compare intellectual property lawyers in Dubai, including us.
Do they handle trademarks every day?
Registration, objections and oppositions each have their own deadlines, and experience shows in how they are handled.
Can they protect you beyond the UAE?
If you trade or source across the region, ask how they manage filings in the MENA region and Asia.
Will they enforce, not just register?
Ask how they handle counterfeits, customs action and court claims.
Will they tell you if your mark is weak?
Descriptive or crowded names are hard to protect, and good advice says so before you file.
Are the fees clear?
Professional fees and the Ministry’s government fees should be quoted separately, per class and per stage.
IP protection for start-ups, growing brands and international companies
Brands are often a company’s most valuable asset and its most exposed. Start-ups come to us to protect a name before launch, growing businesses to cover new products and markets, and international companies looking for an intellectual property lawyer in the UAE who can register and enforce their rights here.
Talk to a lawyer about your brandStart-ups
Protect the name before launch
Growing brands
New classes and new markets
International companies
UAE filings and enforcement
Creators and developers
Copyright in your work
IP lawyer fees in Dubai
Fees depend on the work. Searches, applications, renewals and most oppositions are usually quoted as fixed fees, while enforcement and court work depend on the scale of the infringement. The Ministry’s government fees for a trademark are AED 6,500 per class on the regular route, and are paid separately.
After your free initial consultation you receive a written fee quote, so you know the cost before we start.
What our clients say on Google
5.0from 17 Google reviews
“I highly recommend Althea & Jacobs for all legal requirements in the UAE and beyond. The team is excellently led by Althea, a true professional who offers expert legal advice and thoughtful guidance at every step. Their professionalism, responsiveness, and attention to detail make the entire process seamless.”
“My experience and interaction with Althea and Jacob’s was great. They explained everything very patiently and was very friendly. I really appreciate the honest advice and transparent pricing. The whole process was very smooth and stress free”
“Althea & Jacobs FZ LLC stands out for their professionalism, integrity, and client-focused approach. Althea and her team take the time to understand requirements thoroughly and provide clear, practical legal guidance throughout the process.”
Questions about intellectual property lawyers in Dubai
Straight answers to what clients ask us most. Can’t see yours? Ask a lawyer directly.
How do I register a trademark in the UAE?
Search the register, choose the classes for your goods or services, and file the application online with the Ministry of Economy and Tourism. If the Ministry accepts it, the mark is published in the Trademark Bulletin for a 30-day opposition period, and once that period ends and the registration fee is paid, the certificate is issued.
How much does trademark registration cost in the UAE?
The Ministry’s fees are AED 6,500 per class on the regular route: AED 750 for examination, AED 750 for publication and AED 5,000 for registration. Expedited examination within one business day costs AED 2,250 instead of AED 750. Professional fees for the search, filing and follow-up are charged separately.
How long does trademark registration take in the UAE?
The Ministry examines a new application within about 90 days, or within one business day if you pay for expedited examination. Publication, the 30-day opposition period and the issue of the certificate follow, so a straightforward application usually completes within a few months.
How long does a UAE trademark last?
A registered trademark is protected for 10 years from the filing date and can be renewed for further 10-year periods. Renewal can be filed in the final year of protection or within a six-month grace period after expiry, which carries a higher fee.
Does one trademark registration cover Dubai and the rest of the UAE?
Yes. Trademarks are registered at the federal level with the Ministry of Economy and Tourism, so one registration protects your mark in all seven Emirates for the classes it covers.
Can a company outside the UAE register a trademark here?
Yes. A trademark owner located outside the UAE files through a registered trademark agent, with a notarised and legally translated power of attorney. Owners with a home registration can also designate the UAE through the Madrid Protocol, which the UAE joined on 28 December 2021.
What happens if I do not use my registered trademark?
A mark that has not been used for five consecutive years can be cancelled if an interested party applies, unless there were exceptional circumstances that prevented its use. Keeping evidence of use protects a registration you rely on.
What can I do if someone copies my brand in Dubai?
Collect the evidence, check that your registration covers the goods or services involved, and get advice before contacting the other side. Depending on the facts, the options include a cease-and-desist letter, a complaint to the Department of Economy and Tourism, customs action and a claim before the courts.
How do I stop counterfeit goods entering the UAE?
Once the trademark is registered with the Ministry, it can be recorded with customs. Each emirate runs its own customs, so recording with Dubai Customs and the other customs authorities lets them flag suspect shipments and allows you to file complaints against them.
Do I need to register copyright in the UAE?
No. Copyright arises automatically when a work is created, and an author’s economic rights generally last for life plus 50 years. Registering the work with the Ministry is optional, but it gives you dated evidence of ownership that helps in any dispute.
Does my company need a trademark licence or assignment?
Not usually. A licence or assignment only arises when a trademark owned by one person or company is to be used or owned by another, for example a group company or a franchisee, and recording it with the Ministry carries a fee. We will tell you whether your structure needs one.
How much does an IP lawyer cost in Dubai?
It depends on the work. We offer a free initial consultation, then a written fee quote, usually a fixed fee for searches, applications, oppositions and renewals, with the Ministry’s government fees shown separately.
Do you handle IP matters outside the UAE?
Yes. We manage trademark portfolios and IP enforcement across the MENA region and Asia, coordinating filings, renewals and actions in each country so your brand is protected wherever you trade.
Speak to an IP lawyer in Dubai today
Confidential, practical advice on protecting your brand from a team that has made intellectual property its core. Visit our Sheikh Zayed Road office or reach us by phone, WhatsApp or email.
- Office No. 18, 22nd Floor, Tower Plaza Hotel, Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
- +971 55 551 0930
- info@altheajacobs.com
- Monday to Friday, 9am to 6pm
Closed Saturday and Sunday
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The information on this page is general and does not constitute legal advice. Every matter depends on its own facts; past results do not guarantee future outcomes. Court representation is provided together with our UAE National Advocates and Associates.
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