We highly recommend working with an IP attorney throughout the entirety of your application process to avoid mistakes and increase your chances of submitting a successful application.
Their fees can range from AED 1,000-3,000 per hour.
Use our IP Attorney Registry to find a recommended agent to help guide you in your Patent 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.)
Patent applications in the UAE can be submitted through the MoEc Patent and Industrial Design Portal. To access applications for Patents, navigate to the New Applications drop down menu in the services panel.
There are international treaties and conventions in place, such as the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) and the Paris Convention, that make it easier to file a Patent application in many countries at once.
Keep in mind that the PCT doesn't give you a single "worldwide Patent." Instead, it offers a standardized and centralized way to file your application. You may find out more about PCT through WIPO.
The Ministry of Economy (MoEc) provides express examinations for an additional fee (AED 2,000 for Individuals and Companies, AED 1,000 for SMEs and Academia). This service can be requested after submitting your application, at the time of payment of the substantive examination fees.
Once you submit your application, the Development of Innovation in the Economy and Patents Department (DIEPD) at the Ministry of Economy (MoEc) will carefully assess it to ensure it meets their requirements.
The examination process involves communication between you and the DIEPD, so be sure to watch for any correspondence from them. As of 2023, the process can take around 40 months, depending on whether any changes to your application are required.
The examination process will follow these steps:
Your application will undergo an initial review to ensure it contains all the necessary documents.
Once these initial checks have been made, the application will move into the substantive examination - here, Patent examiners will thoroughly check that your invention is new, inventive, industrially applicable and meets other legal requirements. Examiners closely examine the technical aspects, comparing your invention with prior art.
During the examination, the Patent office might send observations and potential reasons for rejecting the application. You must respond by providing arguments or making necessary amendments within 90 days of being notified, along with paying the reexamination fee. Otherwise, your application will be considered withdrawn.
After receiving the rejection reasons from the office, you can submit an amendment along with an argument to overcome the rejection or strengthen your claims. However, any amendment must remain within the original scope of the disclosure. Any feature beyond the original disclosure will be considered new matter and will not be accepted by the examiner.
If the patent examiner accepts the application, confirming that it satisfies all legal requirements, including patentability, you will be invited to pay the registration fee. The registration will then be published in the online digital library following a ministerial decision to register.
After publication, any interested party may oppose the registration by submitting a post-grant reexamination request to the ministry, along with evidence and reasons to cancel the registration. Any party may also appeal to the Committee based 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 changes from your side, you'll get a notification and email. You can find the details of what you need to do on the Portal in the notification section.
Every year, you must pay fees to the Development of Innovation in the Economy and Patents Department (DIEPD) at the Ministry of Economy (MoEc) to keep your Patent active. The fee is due on the date you filed the application, not the date it was granted. For example, if you filed for a Patent on March 19, 2023, the first fee is due by March 19, 2024.
Keep an eye on the market to detect any infringements. This may include unauthorized commercial use of the patented invention, such as using, manufacturing, selling, offering for sale, or importing. You can monitor the market yourself, or in some cases, an IP attorney can do so on your behalf by arrangement.
You may commercialize your Patent through various modes, including direct exploitation or licensing. However, keep in mind that exercising your Patent may infringe on someone else’s intellectual property, including another Patent, as owning a Patent does not guarantee that your invention is free from preexisting technology. In such cases, legal arrangements like cross-licensing may be necessary to exercise your Patent.
To find out more about what you can do once you’ve been granted a Patent, please visit the Manage Your Patent page.
