Middle East: Intellectual Property

The UAE trade mark system faces a procedural challenge where accepted applications remain incomplete for years, blocking new filings despite never progressing to registration.

Saudi Arabia has approved implementing regulations for its new Geographical Indications Protection System, establishing a framework for registering and protecting products whose quality or reputation is linked to specific geographical origins.

Iraq's Trade Mark Office has established specific requirements and deadlines for submitting priority documents when claiming priority under the Paris Convention. Applicants must navigate a unique 30-day submission window that begins only after examination results are issued, creating timing challenges that differ from the standard six-month priority period. Understanding these procedural requirements is essential for securing priority rights in Iraqi trade mark applications.

Kuwait's Competition Protection Agency has introduced its first formal framework for handling confidential information in competition proceedings through Decision 33/2026.

Intellectual property (IP) often represents the most valuable asset in a technology M&A transaction. Yet IP due diligence remains one of the most underestimated parts of technology deals.

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has become a new beacon in the Gulf region as a franchise destination, owing to a strong economic expansion, youthful and wealthy populace and bold transformations under Vision 2030.

Saudi Arabia has modernized its intellectual property framework through the enactment of a new Copyright Law pursuant to Royal Decree No. M/169, published in the Official Gazette (Umm Al-Qura) on February 13, 2026.

The UAE has developed a strong legal framework for protecting intellectual property and resolving commercial brand disputes. This framework is supported by major legislative reforms, including Federal Decree-Law...

In the UAE's fast-paced digital economy, original content faces constant risks of unauthorized copying and misuse across borders. Understanding Federal Decree Law No. 38 of 2021 and working with experienced legal counsel can mean the difference between reactive damage control and proactive protection of your creative and commercial assets.

Patents serve as crucial legal instruments protecting innovators' exclusive rights to exploit their inventions for specified periods. Understanding Egypt's patent registration framework under Law No. 82 of 2002 reveals how the system balances inventor interests with societal benefits while promoting economic development through technological advancement.

United Trademark & Patent Services celebrates its continued recognition in the IAM Patent 1000 guide, earning rankings as a Highly Recommended Firm in Pakistan and a leading firm in the UAE for patent prosecution, transactions, and litigation. The firm's leadership team, including Hasan Irfan Khan, Yawar Irfan Khan, Maria Farrukh Irfan Khan, and others, brings decades of combined expertise in patent law, enforcement, and strategic IP advisory across the Middle East and South Asia.

Intellectual property is one of the most valuable assets for businesses and individuals in Dubai. From brand names and logos to software and creative works, protecting these rights is essential in a competitive and fast-growing market.