United Arab Emirates joined the Madrid Protocol

United Arab Emirates (UAE) joined the Madrid Protocol. The protocol will enter into force for the UAE on 28 December 2021.

The Government of the UAE deposited its instrument of accession to the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) on September 28, 2021. With the participation of the UAE, the number of members of the Madrid system has reached 125. In addition, the UAE, along with Bahrain and Oman, which are members of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), became the third country of the GCC to join the Protocol.

From 28 December 2021, UAE brand owners will be able to apply under the Madrid Protocol to obtain trademark protection in one or more countries outside the UAE. Also from that date on, the non-UAE brand owners will be able to apply through the Madrid Protocol to obtain trademark registration in the UAE.

The Madrid system offers the opportunity to apply and register trademarks in many countries with a single application. The Madrid application process provides high efficiency and cost savings compared to the individual application method based on the traditional priority application.

The advantages of using the Madrid system are not only limited to the application, but also continue after registration. For example, when it is time to renew at the end of the ten-year protection period of the mark, the renewal can be carried out for all countries identified in WIPO through a single electronic filing. Another benefit after registration is that when right holders need to register for a name change, transfer or change of address, they can do so with a single request, at very affordable costs, in all countries.