Key Highlights:

• 50% Fee Reduction for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) registered under the National SME Programme.
• Full Exemption from trademark service fees for People of Determination.
• New Services Introduced, including:
  • One-Day Trademark Examination
  • Temporary Protection for trademarks used at recognised exhibitions and events
  • Conversion of National Applications into International Registrations under the Madrid Protocol

The updated resolution also restructures the appeal and opposition framework, introducing official fees for appeals against refusals, amendments, and opposition decisions. It further expands procedures for dispute resolution, with new charges for cancellation actions and appeals before the Grievance Committee.

On the enforcement front, the Ministry has introduced new procedures for assessing potential trademark infringement and has reaffirmed that multi-class applications remain subject to per-class fees, pending the launch of the updated e-services platform.

Additional updates include fee adjustments for post-registration actions, particularly for renewals of certification and collective marks within the grace period. A new process now allows rights holders to appeal refusals to amend registered logos, addressing a gap in previous practice.

These reforms reflect the UAE’s continued efforts to modernise its IP infrastructure, promote inclusive access to trademark services, and support innovation across sectors.

For more information, please contact uae@qumsieh.com.

These updates come through Cabinet Resolution No. (102) of 2025, issued on 8 October 2025, which will enter into force on 15 November 2025, and a corresponding update to individual fees under the Madrid Protocol, effective 2 November 2025.

Revised Madrid Protocol Fees:
As announced by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), the individual fee for designating the UAE under the Madrid Protocol has been reduced from CHF 1,630 to CHF 1,420 per class, applicable to international applications, subsequent designations, and renewals filed on or after 2 November 2025.

New Services Introduced by the UAE Ministry of Economy and Tourism:
The updated domestic framework includes:

• One-day trademark examination (express examination) with an additional fee.
• Temporary trademark protection for events, exhibitions, and workshops.
• Conversion of national applications to international applications under the Madrid Protocol
• New appeal fees based on the nature of the dispute (e.g. appeal against rejection or opposition decisions).
• 50% fee reduction for SMEs registered under the UAE National SME Programme.
• Full fee exemption for People of Determination, promoting equal access to trademark services.

For more information, please contact uae@qumsieh.com.

The decision to join the Paris Convention signifies Ethiopia’s commitment to enhancing its legal framework in support of innovation and economic growth. By harmonising its IP protection standards with those recognised globally, Ethiopia aims to create a more predictable and transparent environment for both local innovators and international investors.

For more information, please contact ethiopia@qumsieh.com.

With this adoption, all new trademark applications filed in Bahrain will now be examined in accordance with the updated classification structure. This move aligns Bahrain’s trademark practice with the latest international standards and enhances consistency with other jurisdictions that have already transitioned to the 12th Edition.

Our team is monitoring the implementation closely and is available to assist clients in reviewing their trademark portfolios or preparing new applications in accordance with the revised classification.

For more information, please contact bahrain@qumsieh.com.

Previously, trademark filings submitted by individuals or entities of Turkish origin were rejected outright by the TMO due to the boycott of Turkey, reflecting broader political sensitivities. This restriction posed a significant barrier for Turkish applicants seeking to secure intellectual property rights in Syria and led to the effective exclusion of Turkish brands from formal protection within the country.

Under the new policy, Turkish applicants are now permitted to refile their previously rejected trademark applications. The TMO has confirmed that these applications will be processed in the same manner as other foreign filings, subject only to the payment of the official filing fees. Once submitted, applications will be examined under its standard procedures, and acceptance will be granted unless objections arise on grounds unrelated to the applicant’s nationality, such as descriptiveness, likelihood of confusion, or non-distinctiveness.

This change is expected to facilitate greater access to the Syrian IP system for Turkish applicants and may serve as an encouraging sign of improved administrative neutrality within the country’s intellectual property framework. It also underscores the evolving role of IP offices in ensuring equal access to protection irrespective of geopolitical factors.

If you have any questions, please contact syria@qumsieh.com.

Applicants may now request a one-month extension for specific deadlines, subject to a fee of $14. This applies to the following transactions:

• Late submission of required documents;
• Replying to an Examiner’s office action refusal decision;
• Submitting an opposition against a published trademark application;
• Filing a response to an opposition;
• Filing a response to a cancellation action;
• Submitting evidence in an opposition case, and
• Submitting evidence in a cancellation action case.

The same fee and rules also apply to requests for suspending trademark application procedures due to opposition initiated by third parties.

Applicants may submit additional extension requests as long as they are filed before the extended deadline.

For further information, please contact palestine@qumsieh.com.

The trademark protection period is now ten (10) years instead of 15. This will only affect trademarks registered or renewed after the effective date.

The official fees have increased as a result of this law for all intellectual property transactions.

For more information, please contact lebanon@qumsieh.com.

The main aspects of the new regulation are as follows:

• Introduction of provisions to register and protect sound marks
• Electronic publication of the accepted applications
• Opposition period shortened from 60 days to 30 days
• Adoption of the 11th Edition of Nice Classification
• New increased official fees
• Trademark protection is restricted to the trademark as applied for, i.e., Applications consisting of a black-and-white trademark will only protect the black-and-white version of the mark and will not extend to other coloured versions of the brand. The applied-for mark must be identical to the mark in use

This Decree was published on 17 January 2024 and will go into effect 30 days from the date of publication.

You can find a copy of the regulation here.

For more information, please contact libya@qumsieh.com.

Effective as of 5 November 2023, this update has changed how users can file trademark applications through SAIP’s online filing system. It no longer allows applicants to select class headings. Applicants should select items from the predefined list of goods and services or select the option “all items in the class”.

For more information, please contact saudi-arabia@qumsieh.com.

The Department started accepting trademark applications designating items from the 10th Edition on 19 August 2023.

This new practice came in line with the implementation of the new online trademark filing system. The change in the classification was inevitable to facilitate the development of the Department’s system.

For more information, please contact yemen@qumsieh.com.