The United Arab Emirates Join the Madrid System

The United Arab Emirates Join the Madrid System

On September 28, 2021, the Government of the United Arab Emirates deposited its instrument of accession to the Madrid Protocol with WIPO Deputy Director Generals Binying Wang and Hasan Kleib, making it the 109th member of the Madrid System, which now covers 125 countries. This also makes it the third country in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), alongside Bahrain and Oman to join the Madrid Union. The Protocol will enter into force for the United Arab Emirates on December 28, 2021.

Starting December 28, 2021, local brand owners in the United Arab Emirates will be able to start using the Madrid System to protect their trademarks in the 124 territories of the System’s other 108 members by filing a single international application and paying a single set of fees.

With its straightforward designation process, foreign businesses and trademark owners can, from December 28, 2021, seek trademark protection through the Madrid System when selling their products and services in the United Arab Emirates.