A UAE trademark registration does not last forever on its own. Protection runs for 10 years from the filing date and can be renewed for further 10-year periods, again and again, as long as the owner keeps renewing on time. Missing the renewal is one of the most common, and most avoidable, ways businesses lose a valuable brand.
When can you renew?
Renewal can be requested during the last months before the protection period ends. Planning it ahead of the expiry date is the safest approach, because documents, owner details or a power of attorney may need updating first.
The grace period after expiry
If the expiry date passes without renewal, the law gives the owner a grace period of six months after expiry to renew, with an additional fee. After the grace period, the registration can be struck off the register, and the mark becomes open for others to file.
Relying on the grace period is risky: you pay more, and if something goes wrong late in the period there is little time left to fix it.
Renewal is a good moment to review the registration
- Owner name and address: are they still correct after any change of company name, address or legal form?
- Ownership: if the mark was sold or moved to another group company, has the assignment been recorded?
- The mark itself: has the logo changed so much that the registered version no longer reflects what you use? A new filing may be needed for the new design.
- Goods and services: does the registration still cover what you actually sell today, or do you need a filing in an additional class?
Do not forget use
Renewal keeps the registration alive, but a mark that is not used can still be attacked. Under UAE law, an interested party can request cancellation of a mark that has not been used for five consecutive years without an acceptable reason. Keep evidence of use, such as invoices, packaging and advertising, for each class that matters to you.
A simple renewal checklist
- List every registration you own with its filing date and class.
- Set reminders well before each 10-year expiry date, not only on the date itself.
- Confirm the owner details and any recorded changes.
- Check whether the registered goods and the mark still match your business.
- Renew before expiry, and treat the grace period as an emergency option only.
Government fees change from time to time; see our articles on the 2025 fee reduction for SMEs and the updated trademark fees.
Planning a new brand alongside an existing one? Check its availability with our free trademark search, or contact us to review your portfolio and renewal dates.
