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Trademark Opposition and Refusals in the UAE
Opposed, refused or facing a copycat application? We confirm your 30-day deadline, check whether the disputed classes matter to your business, and prepare your reply, grievance or opposition with the Ministry of Economy and Tourism (MoET). A trademark opposition in the UAE is a third party’s formal challenge to a published application, and a refusal is MoET turning an application down. Either way, you have 30 days from MoET’s notification to reply or file a grievance.
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What is a trademark opposition in the UAE?
A trademark opposition is a formal challenge by a third party against your application after MoET publishes it in its Trademark Bulletin. Anyone with an interest can oppose within 30 days of publication. If you are notified of an opposition, you have 30 days to file a written reply, or the application is treated as abandoned.
The rules come from Federal Decree-Law No. 36 of 2021 on Trademarks and its implementing regulation, Cabinet Decision No. 57 of 2022. The Decree-Law replaced the 1992 law from 2 January 2022. People also call MoET’s online Trademark Bulletin the UAE trademark gazette or journal.
A note on wording
MoET’s service pages call a third-party opposition an “objection”, for example “Objection to the Acceptance of a Trademark Registration”. We say “opposition”. When MoET itself turns down an application, we call that a “refusal”, which you challenge with a grievance.
Which trademark notice did you receive?
| Your situation | What it means | Deadline | Next step |
|---|---|---|---|
| MoET says a third party opposed your published application | Opposition against you | 30 days from notification, or the application is treated as abandoned | Reply → |
| MoET asked you to amend the application or set conditions | Examiner’s conditions | 30 days or the application is treated as abandoned | Respond → |
| MoET refused your application | Refusal | 30 days from notification | File a grievance → |
| You found a similar application in MoET’s Trademark Bulletin | You can oppose it | 30 days from publication | Oppose → |
| The similar mark is already registered | The opposition window has closed | Cancellation time limits apply | See below |
Your options if the similar mark is already registered or in use include cancellation.
My trademark application was opposed: what happens next?
If your application is opposed, MoET sends you the opposition and you have 30 days from that notification to file a written reply. If you miss the deadline, the application is treated as abandoned. MoET may hold a hearing, then issues a reasoned decision, which either side can challenge with a grievance within 30 days.
- A third party opposes within 30 days of publication, giving reasons and paying the government fee.
- MoET sends it to you within 30 days.
- You reply in writing within 30 days of that notification.
- MoET may hold a hearing (a hearing request costs AED 350), then issues a reasoned decision.
- Either side can file a grievance within 30 days, then appeal to the courts. Neither step stops registration unless a court orders a stay.
What goes into your reply
- how the marks differ in look, sound and meaning, and how the goods or services, customers and sales channels differ
- evidence of your own use and reputation in the UAE, where you have it
- earlier rights you hold, such as an earlier filing or earlier use
- a power of attorney if someone files for you, notarized, legalized for use in the UAE and translated into Arabic (see arranging a power of attorney)
Evidence added later costs AED 350 in government fees, so we gather it before replying.
Do you actually need the classes that were opposed?
Before you pay to defend an opposition, check whether the opposed classes are ones your business uses or plans to use. Government fees are charged per class and a published application cannot be amended, so a narrower, fresh filing for the classes you need is sometimes simpler than defending a class you never needed.
Each class costs AED 6,500 in government fees for a standard application (fee schedule in force since November 2025). A fresh filing gets a new filing date, and protection counts from that date.
| If the opposed class is… | Our starting point |
|---|---|
| Core to what you sell now | Defend it with evidence |
| Part of your expansion plan, such as new products or channels | Weigh the cost of defending now against filing again later |
| Not something your business provides or plans to | Consider a narrower, fresh application for the classes you need |
We map your products, services and markets first, then recommend defending, narrowing or re-filing.
How do I oppose someone else's trademark application in the UAE?
To oppose someone else’s trademark in the UAE, you file an opposition with MoET within 30 days of the application’s publication in the Trademark Bulletin. MoET’s government fee is AED 7,500. You need to show your interest and the grounds, such as a conflict with your earlier mark, a well-known mark or your trade name.
The window runs from publication, even if you notice the application later, so check the Bulletin regularly.
Missed the window? A registration can still be canceled in some cases, for example at the first user’s request within 5 years of registration, or after 5 consecutive years of non-use. Act early, because after 5 years of registration and use without challenge, ownership cannot be disputed unless the registrant acted in bad faith. See canceling a registration that copies your brand.
MoET refused my trademark: how do I file a grievance?
If MoET refuses your trademark application, you can file a grievance with its Grievance Committee within 30 days of the notification. The government fee is AED 5,000. If the Committee upholds the refusal, you can appeal to the courts within 30 days of its decision. Courts will not hear the case unless a grievance came first.
Miss the deadline and the application is treated as abandoned. A judge nominated by the Minister of Justice chairs the Committee, which MoET’s English service page calls the “Appeals Committee”. Grievances have been paid since mid-November 2025, so older guides that call them free are out of date. If the matter goes to court, we handle that stage too.
Before a refusal: answering the examiner's conditions
If the examiner asks you to amend the application or sets conditions, you have 30 days to respond, or the application is treated as abandoned.
Why does MoET refuse trademark applications?
MoET refuses applications that conflict with earlier filed or registered marks, with well-known marks (even if they are not registered in the UAE) or with another party’s trade name. Applications also fail on procedure, for example when the examiner’s requested amendments are not answered within 30 days or the power of attorney is not filed in time.
The power of attorney is due within 90 days of filing, with 30-day extensions available on request since March 2026.
Estimated: MoET also commonly refuses marks that only describe the goods or services, lack distinctive character, could mislead buyers, conflict with public morals, or include official names, flags or emblems.
A search before filing helps you check whether a similar mark is already filed, though MoET states a search result does not mean an application will be accepted.
Grievance, re-file or rethink?
A rejected application leaves three directions.
| Option | Choose it when | What it involves |
|---|---|---|
| Grievance | You believe the refusal is wrong and the mark matters as filed | AED 5,000 government fee, filed within 30 days |
| Re-file | A changed mark or a narrower list of goods and services avoids the conflict | A new application and filing date; see registering your trademark in the UAE → |
| Rethink classes | The conflict sits in a class you do not need | The classes check above |
How Gatestone helps with oppositions and refusals
Gatestone Group handles oppositions, refusals and grievances, including court stages. You can file on MoET’s portal yourself; the risk sits in the deadline and the evidence, which is where we start.
The same team handles registration, infringement and cancellation, from offices in Dubai, Riyadh and London. Gatestone’s own trademark is registered in the UAE, in Class 35. No outcome is guaranteed; MoET, the Grievance Committee or the courts decide.
Received an opposition?
Send it with the date it arrived, and we'll confirm your reply deadline.
UAE opposition and refusal deadlines and government fees at a glance
Government fees as of October 2026, under the fee schedule in force since mid-November 2025:
| Step | Deadline | Government fee |
|---|---|---|
| Opposition by a third party | 30 days from publication | AED 7,500 |
| Applicant’s written reply | 30 days from notification | Confirmed in your quote |
| Hearing request or new evidence | During the proceedings | AED 350 each |
| Grievance against an opposition decision | 30 days | Applicant AED 7,500; opponent AED 3,750 |
| Response to the examiner’s conditions | 30 days | Confirmed in your quote |
| Grievance against a refusal | 30 days from notification | AED 5,000 |
| Court appeal after the Grievance Committee | 30 days from its decision | Court costs confirmed at consultation |
MoET may charge some of these fees per class, and we confirm them in your quote. Sources: Cabinet Resolution No. 102 of 2025 and Cabinet Decision No. 57 of 2022, checked October 2026.
Opposing a trademark: government fee and professional fee
| Government fee (paid to MoET) | Professional fee (estimated) | |
|---|---|---|
| Filing an opposition | AED 7,500 | Estimated from AED 5,000 |
Professional fees: estimated from AED 5,000 to prepare and file an opposition, charged by Gatestone on top of MoET’s government fee. We quote replies, grievances and court stages after reviewing the notice.
How long does a trademark opposition take in the UAE?
A trademark opposition or refusal adds months to a UAE trademark application, and a grievance or court appeal adds more. Estimated timeline: MoET’s published service standard is 60 working days to decide an opposition and about 40 days for a grievance. Once we see the notice, we give you a realistic estimate and set out every deadline in writing.
After the decision: what comes next
- If your application proceeds, registration follows, with protection counted from your filing date. If not, weigh a grievance or court appeal against re-filing.
- A UAE registration covers the UAE only, so plan for protecting the brand in the countries you sell to next.
- If a similar mark stays in use, see your options against a copycat.
- Questions
Frequently asked questions
How long is the trademark opposition period in the UAE?
What if I miss the 30-day deadline to reply?
My trademark was rejected in the UAE. Can I appeal?
How much does it cost to oppose a trademark in the UAE?
Why would a trademark be refused in the UAE?
Can I change the classes in my application after it is opposed?
Is my product design also protected by copyright?
Tell us what you received and when
We’ll confirm your deadline, check your classes and set out your options, with both fees quoted separately.
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Entrepreneurs, brand owners, and companies choose Gatestone Group because they want clear advice, careful document support, and a smoother trademark registration experience in the UAE.
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