Trademark Assignment & Licence Translation in the UAE (2026)
The Short Answer
After a trademark is registered in the UAE, any change to who owns or uses it (an assignment, a licence, a merger, or a change of the owner’s name or address) should be recorded with the Ministry of Economy and Tourism (MoET), which runs the UAE trademark register. Documents signed abroad normally need to be notarised and legalised in the country of signature, attested by the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA), and translated into Arabic by a translator licensed by the UAE Ministry of Justice (MOJ). The same applies to the power of attorney used to record a registered mark with customs against counterfeits.
Smart World Legal Translation (SWLT) is an MOJ-licensed translation office in Abu Dhabi that translates trademark and IP documents from 50+ languages, from AED 80 per 200-word page (excl. 5% VAT). If you are filing a new application rather than changing an existing registration, start with our trademark registration translation guide.
Why Post-Registration Changes Need Certified Arabic Translation
Trademarks in the UAE are governed by Federal Decree-Law No. 36 of 2021 on Trademarks. The register is kept in Arabic, so a document that changes an entry on it is examined in Arabic. Three practical points follow:
- An unrecorded change is weak against third parties. A buyer of a brand or an exclusive licensee who never records the deal can struggle to enforce it against infringers, customs or a later buyer. Recording requires the underlying agreement or certificate, attested and translated.
- The register must match the corporate records. After a merger or a change of company name, the owner shown on the certificate must be updated before the next renewal, opposition or enforcement action. That needs the foreign merger or name-change certificate in certified Arabic.
- Customs act on the UAE registration. Dubai Customs records a mark for border protection only after it is registered with the Ministry, and asks for an authenticated and translated power of attorney when an agent files. Each emirate’s customs authority runs its own recordation.
Which IP Documents Need Translating After Registration
| Document | Used for | Attestation before translation | Filed with |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deed of assignment (sale of the mark) | Recording a new owner | Notarised, legalised abroad, then MOFA | MoET trademark register |
| Trademark licence agreement | Recording an exclusive or non-exclusive licensee | Notarised, legalised abroad, then MOFA | MoET; produced in court if enforcement is needed |
| Certificate of merger | Transferring marks to the surviving company | Issued by the foreign registry, legalised, then MOFA | MoET trademark register |
| Certificate of change of name or address | Updating the owner’s details | Legalised abroad, then MOFA | MoET trademark register |
| Power of attorney to an IP agent | Any recordal, renewal or customs filing | Notarised, legalised abroad, then MOFA | MoET, Dubai Customs and other customs authorities |
| Madrid Protocol documents (WIPO notifications, provisional refusals) | International registrations designating the UAE | Usually none; issued by WIPO or the Ministry | Response filed with MoET within the stated deadline |
MOFA attests commercial documents for AED 2,000 each and personal documents for AED 150 each; check current fees on the MOFA website. Documents from Apostille Convention countries may follow a different route, explained in our apostille vs attestation guide.
Step by Step: Recording an Assignment or Licence
1. Sign the agreement with recordal in mind
List every UAE registration number, class and mark exactly as on the UAE certificates. A deed that says only “all trademarks worldwide” often has to be supplemented with a schedule of UAE marks. If you want the deal in both languages from the start, see bilingual drafting vs translation.
2. Notarise and legalise abroad
The signatures are notarised where they are signed, then legalised through the local foreign ministry and the UAE embassy, or apostilled where accepted.
3. Attest at MOFA in the UAE
MOFA verifies the embassy stamp. Our MOFA attestation guide explains the process.
4. Translate into Arabic
An MOJ-licensed translator translates the full document, including schedules, seals and attestation stamps, and keeps the owner’s name identical to the Arabic name already on the register.
5. File the recordal
Your IP agent or lawyer files the request with the Ministry. Once recorded, use the updated certificate for customs recordation, renewals and enforcement.
Mistakes That Get Trademark Recordals Rejected
Most rejected or delayed recordals come down to the same few problems:
- The Arabic owner name changes. If the register shows the company’s name transliterated one way, the translation of the assignment must use exactly the same Arabic spelling, or the examiner cannot match the parties.
- Translating before attestation. The translation must include the attestation stamps, so it comes last.
- Leaving out schedules. The list of marks, classes and territories is part of the agreement and must be translated.
- Free-wording the goods and services. Class descriptions in a licence should follow the wording on the UAE registration, not a fresh translation of the foreign text.
- Machine translation. Terms such as “exclusive”, “sole” and “non-exclusive” licence, or “assignment” versus “transfer of goodwill”, carry different legal effects and are often confused by automatic tools.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a trademark licence have to be recorded in the UAE?
Recording is what makes the licence visible on the register and easier to rely on against third parties, customs and in court. Ask your IP agent whether recording is needed for your licence structure; the translation requirements are the same either way.
We registered through the Madrid Protocol. Do we still need Arabic translations?
The UAE has been part of the Madrid System since 28 December 2021. The international registration itself is handled by WIPO, but a response to a UAE provisional refusal, and any local enforcement or customs filing, normally needs Arabic documents and a translated power of attorney.
Is the trademark certificate itself already in Arabic?
Yes, the UAE certificate is issued by the Ministry. Companies often need it translated into English or another language for parent-company files, foreign courts or licensees abroad. We translate in both directions.
How long does translation take?
A deed of assignment or a power of attorney is usually ready within 24 hours. A long licence agreement with schedules typically takes two to three working days. Urgent work is priced on request.
How much does it cost?
From AED 80 per 200-word page for Arabic and English, AED 100 for French, AED 150 for German, Italian or Turkish, and AED 250 for other languages such as Chinese or Russian (all excl. 5% VAT). Large portfolios receive discounts.
Disclaimer
This article is general information about translating trademark documents and is not legal advice. Recordal requirements and fees are set by the Ministry of Economy and Tourism and the customs authorities and can change. Ask a registered UAE trademark agent or lawyer about your specific filing; for official information see the Ministry’s website.
Get Your IP Documents Translated
Send scans for a confidential review and a free quote. Smart World Legal Translation is led by Dr. Hani Elimam (MOJ-licensed translator, AIIC member), has translated legal documents since 2014 and is rated 4.8/5 on Google. Send your documents on WhatsApp, see our power of attorney translation page, or use our contact page.