Cancelling a UAE trademark for non-use

When a mark can be cancelled

Under the UAE Trademark Law (Federal Decree-Law No. 36 of 2021) a registered mark can be cancelled if it has not been used for five consecutive years without a good reason. Use by the owner or with its consent counts; a real reason that prevented use (for example a legal ban on the goods) can save the mark.

How it works

1. Investigate first — search the market, online shops and the company’s activity for any use in the UAE.
2. File — an online request to the Ministry, in Arabic, with your evidence and why you have an interest (usually: you want to register a similar mark).
3. Owner replies — the owner is notified and can file evidence of use; hearings may follow.
4. Decision — by the Ministry; appeals go to the grievance committee and then the courts.

Costs and timing

The official fee is AED 10,000, plus the agent’s fee. Decisions have recently been taking about 10–18 months. After a mark is removed for non-use, the law limits re-registration of the same mark by another person for a period — ask your agent how this applies to your filing.

Protect your own mark

• Use the mark in the UAE exactly as registered, for the goods and services listed.
• Keep dated evidence: invoices, ads, website and social media pages, photos of products in UAE shops.
• Register new versions of a changed logo — use of a different logo may not count.

Want to know if an old mark blocks your name? Run the free name check and look for marks registered more than five years ago.

Questions