Countries

The following is information about some Arab countries and their intellectual property laws:

The United Arab Emirates

Pursuant to Federal Law No. (36) of 2021 and Executive Regulation No. (57) of 2022:

1- The Federal Trademark Law was amended to expand the scope of protection to include three-dimensional trademarks, holograms, and audio trademarks.

2- The amendments also include the registration of geographical names for trademarks or products whose name is linked to the names of specific geographical regions or countries and which are famous for producing this product.

3- The amendments also include the requirement to obtain a commercial license that allows for trademark registration, and granting small and medium enterprise owners temporary protection to protect the trademark for their products while participating in exhibitions.

4- The United Arab Emirates joined the Madrid Protocol on September 28, 2021, becoming the 109th member of the Madrid System, and the third country in the Gulf Cooperation Council, along with Bahrain and the Sultanate of Oman, to join the Madrid Protocol.

5- The United Arab Emirates has followed the Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property since September 19, 1996, and is based on the International Classification of Goods under the Nice Agreement.

6- The legal and authorized use of trademarks is important and enjoys legal protection. UAE law criminalizes the illegal use and imitation of registered marks.

Oman

1- Oman follows the Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property and relies on the International Classification of Goods and Services for the purpose of registering trademarks under the Nice Agreement.

2- Trademark is not a requirement for requesting registration or maintaining registration, but a trademark may become subject to cancellation if it is not used for three consecutive years without an acceptable excuse.

Bahrain

1- Bahrain is a member of the Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property and allows priority claims as of June2007.

2- The legal use of trademarks is not a requirement for requesting registration or maintaining registration, but a trademark may become subject to cancellation if it is not used for five consecutive years without an acceptable excuse.

Qatar

1- Qatar follows the International Classification of Goods and Services for the purposes of registering marks based on the Nice Agreement, but there are restrictions on registration for some items such as alcohol and tobacco.

2- The legal use of trademarks is not mandatory, but the registration can be canceled if the trademark has not been used for five consecutive years without an acceptable excuse.

Saudi Arabia

1- The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is a member of the Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property, and relies on the international classification of goods and services based on the Nice Agreement.

2- Intellectual property laws in Saudi Arabia prohibit the illegal use and imitation of registered marks.

Kuwait

1- Kuwait follows the International Classification of Goods and Services for the purposes of registering marks based on the Nice Agreement, but there are restrictions on registration for alcoholic and tobacco products.