Who is Eligible for Patent Registration UAE
Any applicant named in the international PCT application may file in the UAE. Eligible applicants include:
- Individual inventors
- Multinational companies and SMEs
- Universities, research institutions, and R&D centers
- Government entities and public research bodies
- Legal successors and assignees
Foreign applicants with no presence in the UAE may file freely but must appoint a local UAE patent agent to handle patent filing, correspondence, and prosecution before the Ministry of Economy. A local address for service is mandatory.
If the applicant differs from the PCT applicant or inventor, an assignment or proof of right must be submitted. Typically, an executed assignment deed is required, and the UAE generally mandates notarization and legalization of certain documents.
Strict Deadline for Patent Registration in UAE (30/31-Month Rule)
The UAE applies the standard:
- 30-month deadline from the earliest priority date. To proceed into the national phase applicant must submit the required documents
- The national phase entry request
- Required Arabic translations
- All supporting documents
- Applicable fees
within this 30-month window.
Extension After Expiry of the 30-Month Deadline
The Intial Deadline for Patent Registration UAE is 1-month grace period for late national phase filing, extending the entry deadline to:
- 31 months from the priority date
This grace period requires payment of a late fee.
If National Phase Filing is not completed by the end of the 31-month period, the application is considered abandoned in the UAE. No reinstatement mechanism is generally available for missed national phase entry.
Due to this strict deadline regime, applicants should prepare translations and documents well in advance of the deadline.
Filing Language used in Patent Application
If you are going for Patent Registration UAE, then always remember that Patent applications in the UAE must be filed in Arabic.
Accordingly, a full Arabic translation of the PCT application must accompany the national phase entry or be submitted within the prescribed timeframe. This includes:
- Description
- Claims
- Abstract
- Any text contained in drawings
The Arabic version is the legally controlling text used for examination, enforcement, and litigation. Accuracy and technical precision in translation are critical.
Important Documents for Patent Filing UAE
To enter the PCT national phase in the UAE, the following documentation must be completed:
- National Phase Entry Form: Filed with the Ministry of Economy with the prescribed fees.
- Arabic Translation: A complete and correct Arabic translation of the entire specification is mandatory.
- Power of Attorney (POA): The UAE requires a notarized and legalized Power of Attorney for foreign applicants.
Legalization often must extend to the UAE Embassy in the applicant’s country. - Assignment / Proof of Entitlement: If the applicant is not the same as the original PCT applicant or inventor, an assignment document is required.
Assignments typically need notarization and legalization. - Priority Documents: If priority documents were not submitted during the international phase, the UAE may require submission of certified copies and Arabic translations.
- PCT Application Details: Any amendments made during the international phase (Article 19 or 34 amendments) must be provided or identified.
- Payment of Government Fees: Filing, publication, examination, and excess-claim/page surcharges must be paid.
Search and Examination Procedure (Short Overview)
The UAE follows a full substantive examination process. After the applicant requests examination and pays the fee, the following steps occur:
- Formality check
- Prior art search
- Novelty / Patentability Search
- Inventive step assessment
- Industrial applicability check
- Examination of claim clarity, scope, and support
- Review of translation accuracy and compliance
The UAE may also base examination results on reports from established foreign patent offices for certain categories of applications.
Examination Process and Office Actions
The UAE Patent Office may issue Office Actions during examination, identifying formal or substantive objections. Typical issues include:
- Novelty or inventive step rejections
- Lack of unity of invention
- Insufficient disclosure or lack of clarity
- Added matter or amendments not supported
- Defects in translation
- Formal deficiencies in documents or formatting
Applicants are generally given 60–90 days to respond, with extension options available. Responses may include:
- Technical arguments
- Claim amendments
- Revised translations
- Submission of supporting documents
Deadline for Request for Examination
In the UAE, the applicant must request substantive examination within:
- 36 months from the international (PCT) filing date
Failure to request examination within the deadline results in the application being considered withdrawn. To prevent risk, many applicants request examination immediately upon national phase entry.
Publication Process and Legal Impact
Once formal requirements are satisfied, the UAE Patent Office publishes the application in the official gazette. Publication provides:
- Public notice of the invention
- Disclosure of claims and technical content
- A legal basis for provisional activities, such as licensing
- The establishment of prior art against competing applications
However, publication does not confer enforceable rights. Only upon patent grant can rights be enforced.\
Grant Process and Enforceability
After successful completion of the substantive examination, the Patent Office issues a notice of allowance. Upon payment of grant and publication fees, the patent is officially registered and enforceable.
A granted UAE patent provides:
- Exclusive rights to prevent unauthorized commercialization
- Ability to seek injunctions through the UAE courts
- Damages for infringement
- Seizure and destruction orders
- Border enforcement with customs
- Licensing and technology transfer leverage
The UAE’s legal system provides strong remedies and increasingly advanced IP enforcement mechanisms.
Validity Term
A UAE patent is valid for:
- 20 years from the international (PCT) filing date,
subject to annual maintenance fee payments. Currently, no patent term extensions (PTE/SPC) exist in the UAE.
Typical Time for the Patent Registration UAE
The typical timeframe for obtaining a patent in the UAE is approximately:
- 3–5 years from national phase entry
This depends on:
- Translation accuracy
- Examiner workload
- Complexity of the invention
- Number and nature of office actions
- Speed of applicant responses
Annuities and Maintenance Procedure
Annual maintenance fees must be paid each year starting from the first anniversary of the international filing date.
Key points:
- Fees increase progressively over the 20-year term
- A grace period with a surcharge is usually permitted
- Failure to pay the annuity leads to a lapse
- Restoration is sometimes possible but not guaranteed
Official Government Fees for Patent Registration UAE
(All values in UAE Dirham – AED. Actual numbers may vary by claim count, pages, and government revisions.)
15.1 Filing Fees
| Fee Type | Amount (AED) | Notes |
| National Phase Filing Fee | Approx. 1,000–1,500 | Basic filing |
| Excess Claim Fee | Per claim over base limit | Applied at filing |
| Excess Claim Fee | Per page over threshold | Applied at filing |
| Late Filing Grace Period | Additional fee | Up to 31 months |
15.2 Examination Fees
| Fee Type | Amount (AED) | Notes |
| Examination Request Fee | Approx. 5,000–6,000 | Must be requested within 36 months |
| Excess Claim Fee (at exam) | Additional charge | Applies to large claim sets |
15.3 Grant & Publication Fees
| Fee Type | Amount (AED) | Notes |
| Grant/Registration Fee | Approx. 1,000–1,500 | Due after allowance |
| Publication Fee | Approx. 500–1,000 | Gazette publication |
15.4 Annual Maintenance Fees
| Patent Year | Annual Fee (AED) |
| Years 1-5 | Approx. 200-500 per year |
| Years 6-10 | Approx. 500-900 per year |
| Years 11-15 | Approx. 900-1300 per year |
| Years 16-20 | Approx. 13,00-17,00 per year |
Fees increase with patent age; claim-based surcharges may apply.
Utility Model Protection in the UAE
The UAE does not currently provide Utility Model protection.
Only standard invention patents are available under UAE law.
UAE Patent Office & Official Website
United Arab Emirates Ministry of Economy — Intellectual Property Department:
Website: UAE Patent Office
