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.

Applicants seeking to register trademarks in this class must now submit a formal declaration confirming the following:

• The trademark is being registered for priority rights protection only, and
• The mark will not be used within the Yemeni market.

This declaration is subject to an official fee of YR 30,000 and may be drafted by legal officers at the Department.

It is important to note that this declaration is only a formality and does not authorise the commercial use of pharmaceutical or medical goods in Yemen. Actual use of such goods remains strictly dependent upon obtaining a separate licence from the Supreme Authority for Medicines and Medical Supplies.

This new requirement replaces the Department’s previous policy, which had been in effect for several months, whereby applicants were required to provide a license from the Supreme Authority to proceed with trademark applications in Class 5.

For more information, please contact yemen@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.

During the initial implementation stage, the Office will adopt a dual approach. For certain trademark applications, certificates will be issued solely in electronic form. At the same time, some registrations will continue to be issued in paper form while the digital system is gradually phased in.

These provisions came into effect in early July 2025.

For any information, please contact qatar@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.

Previously, Iraq followed a national classification system, where each class was further divided into sub-classes. This system included Classes 1 to 42, while Classes 43, 44, and 45 were omitted. Given Iraq’s multi-class filing system, official fees were historically calculated based on the number of classes within an application.

IMPACT ON PREVIOUSLY REGISTERED OR RENEWED TRADEMARKS
Trademark renewals for registrations filed under the old classification must be accompanied by a request to convert the classes and list of goods/services to align with the new classification system, and then the renewal can take place.

IMPACT ON PENDING APPLICATIONS UNDER THE OLD SYSTEM
It is mandatory to file a request to convert the classes and list of goods/services to align with the new classification system, and then the TMO will continue the registration process.

RECORDALS OF ASSIGNMENT, CHANGE, LICENSE, AND MERGER ON PREVIOUSLY REGISTERED TRADEMARKS
It is mandatory to file a request to convert the classes and list of goods/services to align with the new classification system, and then the TMO will process the recordal application.

NEW TRADEMARK APPLICATIONS
The Department has approved a predefined list of goods/services and services under the 11th Edition of the Nice Classification. Official fees will now be calculated based on the number of items listed in the application rather than by class.

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

Previously, a trademark application could consist of a maximum number of 10 items in the list of goods and services. The new decree allows more items for an additional charge of 5% of the official publication fee for each additional item.

This decree went into effect in January 2025.

For more information, please contact yemen@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.