The United Arab Emirates Joined the Madrid System for Trademark Registration

On September 28, 2021, the United Arab Emirates sent to World Intellectual Property Organization their accession document to the Madrid protocol governing international trademark registrations. They are the 109th jurisdiction to do so, meaning the protocol now covers 125 countries.

The protocol enter into force on December 28, 2021, which means that from that date, trademark owners from the United Arab Emirates will be able to extend their home registrations abroad using a single application.

This will also greatly facilitate the filing of trademark applications in the United Arab Emirates, for foreign applicants from other Madrid protocol signatories, for instance by eliminating the need for expensive and time-consuming legalization of Power of Attorney documents.

The United Arab Emirates is the third country of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), alongside Bahrain and Oman, to join the Madrid Union.


How does the Madrid System work?

Requirements

In order to use the system, a potential applicant must comply with one of the following requirements:

- Be a national of a Madrid Union member country; or
- Be a resident of a Madrid Union member country; or
- Have a real and effective industrial or commercial industrial establishment in Madrid Union member country.
This will determine the applicant’s country of origin. 

Application process

The first stage of the process is to file a trademark application or have a trademark registered in the country of origin. This is done through the local trademarks office in compliance with the country’s requirements. Once the local trademark is filed or registered, an application is made to the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) via the local trademarks office to extend the trademark to the designated member countries.

The trademarks office of each designated country will then proceed to examine and accept or refuse the application depending on their local regulations.

For more information, read our full article about the Trademark Madrid System.

Share icon