We highly recommend working with an IP attorney throughout the entirety of your application process to avoid mistakes and increase chances of a successful application.Their fees can range from AED 1,000-3,000 per hour.
Use our IP Attorney Register to find a recommended agent to help guide you in your IP journey.
Note: Some documents should be submitted in both Arabic and English. Any missing documents should be submitted in accordance with the timeline instructed by the MoEc through official notification. (Generally, 90 days from the notification delivery.)
IC applications in Dubai can be submitted through the MoEc Patent and Industrial Design Portal. To access applications for IC, navigate to the 'New Applications' drop down in the Services panel.
The examination process will follow these steps:
Your application will undergo an initial review to ensure it contains all the necessary documents and information.
During the examination, DIEPD might send requests for more information or amendments to your application. You need to make these amendments within 90 days of being notified. Responding on time and providing thorough answers is crucial to resolving any questions and keeping the examination process moving forward.
After receiving amendments orders from the office, you can make amendments or submit missing documents. You have two chances to do this, and if both fail to satisfy the conditions for originality, the IC won't be granted. In that case, you may have to submit a new application, subject to the originality requirements, with a better case. This back-and-forth process makes sure the IC application meets the strict standards set by UAE authorities.
If the examiner accepts the application confirming that the application satisfies all legal requirements for IC, you are invited to pay the registration fee and the registration will be published through the online digital library after the ministerial decision to register.
After publication any interested party may oppose the registration by making a post-grant re-examination request to the ministry with evidence and reasons to cancel the registration. Any party can appeal to the Committee on the result of the post-grant reexamination.
You can track your applications on the MoEc Patent and Industrial Design Portals. Look for them in the My Applications tab under the Tools section.
If your application needs amendments from your side. You can find the details of what you need to do on the portal in the notification section.
Every year, you need to pay fees to the Development of Innovation in the Economy and Patents Department (DIEPD) at MoEc to keep your IC active. The fee is due on the date you filed the application, not the date it was granted. For example, if you filed for an IC on March 19, 2023, the 2nd year annual fee is due by March 19, 2024.
Keep an eye on the market to catch out any infringements. This may be in the form unauthorized commercial use of the registered IC through using, manufacturing, sales, offer for sale, or importing. This can be done on your own behalf, or in some cases an IP attorney can monitor the market for you upon arrangement.
In the UAE, you are required by law to integrate your IC into the market, through direct distribution through products, use of it in research and development, or commercializing through licensing and royalties.
To find out more about what you can do once you’ve been granted an IC, please visit the Managing Your IC page.
