UAE vs China Trademark: Fees, Time & Rules Compared

Quick answer

A UAE trademark does not protect you in China, and the other way round — you need both. The UAE charges AED 6,500 per class and allows several classes in one application with a 30-day opposition period; China has CNY fees per the official schedule, several classes in one application, and an opposition period of 3 months from preliminary publication. Both are in the Madrid System.

Checked against official sources on 11 October 2026 · see sources

UAE office: Ministry of Economy and Tourism
China office: China National Intellectual Property Administration (Trademark Office) (CNIPA)
One registration for both?: No — file in each
Madrid: Both members

Side by side

	United Arab Emirates	China
Office	Ministry of Economy and Tourism (MoET)	China National Intellectual Property Administration (Trademark Office) (CNIPA)
Official fees	AED 6,500 per class (examination AED 750, publication AED 750, registration AED 5,000)	Application, e-filing (per class, up to 10 items): CNY 270 Application, paper filing (per class, up to 10 items): CNY 300 Collective or certification mark application, e-filing: CNY 1,350 Renewal, e-filing (per class): CNY 450 Renewal in grace period surcharge, e-filing: CNY 225 Opposition, e-filing: CNY 450 Official schedule, 2019-07
Classes per application	Several classes in one application	Several classes in one application
Opposition period	30 days from publication	3 months from preliminary publication; reduced to 2 months under the revised Trademark Law effective 1 January 2027
Protection	10 years from the filing date, renewable	10 years from the registration date, renewable
Renewal grace period	6 months, with a higher fee	6 months after expiry, with surcharge (CNY 225 online / CNY 250 paper); renewal can be filed in the 12 months before expiry
Non-use	Can be cancelled after 5 consecutive years of non-use	Can be challenged after 3 years of non-use
Foreign owners	Must use a registered UAE trademark agent	Foreign individuals and companies without a habitual residence or business establishment in China must appoint a legally established Chinese trademark agency.
Madrid System	Member since 28 December 2021	Member since 1 December 1995
Agent fees	Official fees only — the agent or IP firm in each country charges its own fee on top.

Why you need both

Trademarks are territorial: a UAE registration gives no rights in China, and the other way round. Both are first-to-file, so someone who files your name first in China can block you there even if you own it in the UAE. Register in every market where you sell or manufacture.

How to cover both

Through Madrid: both the UAE and China are in the Madrid System. A UAE owner can extend a UAE application or registration to China in one international application; an owner elsewhere can designate both. Each office still examines the mark under its own rules.
Nationally in each: file directly with each office — often better when you need local wording of goods, expect objections, or want a national certificate quickly.
Start where you sell first: file there, then claim priority in the other within 6 months (Paris Convention) so the earlier date protects you.

Good to know about China

China applies its own subclass system within each Nice class; similarity and the scope of protection are assessed by subclass, so goods should be chosen carefully.
Strict first-to-file system: trademark squatting is common, so early filing (including the Chinese-language version of a mark) is advisable.
Registration in mainland China does not cover Hong Kong, Macao or Taiwan, which have separate systems.
A revised Trademark Law was adopted on 26 June 2026 and takes effect on 1 January 2027; it shortens the opposition period to two months, allows CNIPA to cancel marks unused for three years on its own initiative, and allows fines of up to CNY 100,000 for bad-faith filings.
Customs recordal of registered marks with China Customs is available for border enforcement.

More detail

For China, see the official CNIPA website. For the UAE, read the guides on cost, how to register and Madrid vs national.

Questions

Does a UAE trademark cover China?

No. You need a separate registration in China — filed nationally or through the Madrid System.

Which is cheaper, the UAE or China?

Compare the official fees in the table: the UAE charges AED 6,500 per class in official fees. In both countries the agent’s fee comes on top.

Can I use the Madrid System for China?

Yes — China is a Madrid member (since 1 December 1995), and so is the UAE.

UAE vs China trademark registration