UAE Ministry of Economy and Tourism Introduces Temporary Trade Mark Filing Flexibility

The UAE Ministry of Economy and Tourism (“MOET”) has issued Administrative Decision No. 2 of 2026, introducing temporary procedural relief designed to support business continuity and enhance service delivery within the national trademark system. The decision responds to practical challenges faced by trade mark applicants in obtaining certified and legalised documents within prescribed statutory deadlines and reflects the MOET’s broader commitment to efficiency, customer satisfaction and continuity of intellectual property services.

Background and purpose

Trade mark filings in the UAE require the submission of a duly notarised and, where applicable, legalised power of attorney with allowing late filing of powers with 90 days timeframe. Before the administrative decision, failure to submit this power of attorney within 90 days of filing a new trade mark application results in automatic rejection, with no right of appeal. Recognising that applicants may encounter genuine delays, particularly in securing notarised and legalised documents, the MOET has adopted a more flexible and pragmatic approach on a temporary basis.

Key changes introduced by the decision

Under the new administrative decision, monthly extensions will now be granted for new trade mark applications only where the required power of attorney cannot be submitted within the initial 90-day period. Rather than rejecting the application once the deadline lapses, the Trade Mark Office will allow applicants additional time following expiry of the original period.

This will apply to new trade mark applications as well as trade mark applications which are pending and where a power of attorney has not yet been submitted.

Applicants may therefore continue to progress their applications while awaiting completion of the necessary documentation. This applies to both:

• Legalised powers of attorney for foreign applicants; and
• Notarised powers of attorney for locally based applicants.

Procedural requirements

To benefit from the extension mechanism, applicants or their authorised representatives must take proactive steps. Specifically, a written request for an additional 30-day extension must be submitted to the Trade Marks Department before the expiry of the current granted period. This process may be repeated monthly, provided requests are made on time and the application remains compliant in all other respects.

Importantly, no additional official fees will be charged in connection with these temporary extensions, reducing the financial burden on applicants during periods of delay.

Ongoing Compliance Expectations

While the decision offers valuable flexibility, the MOET has emphasised that applicants remain responsible for submitting all required documents as soon as they become available. The extensions are designed to accommodate unavoidable delays and support business continuity, not to replace standard filing requirements or encourage complacency. Failure to ultimately submit the power of attorney may still jeopardise the application.

Scope and Limitations

The temporary relief applies only to trade mark matters (applications only) and does not extend to oppositions for example or patents or other intellectual property rights. Moreover, the Ministry has confirmed that this measure is temporary, intended to address exceptional circumstances affecting applicants during this period.

Practical impact

This decision represents a welcome development for trade mark owners and practitioners, reducing the risk of irrevocable loss of rights due to administrative or logistical delays. By prioritising flexibility and continuity, the MOET has reinforced the UAE’s pro-business approach to intellectual property protection while maintaining the integrity of its trade mark registration system.

Trade mark applicants are advised to continue monitoring application deadlines closely and to engage with the Trade marks Department in a timely manner to fully benefit from this temporary relief.