Registering a mark, or someone using your brand, copying your work or selling counterfeits? Trademark and IP advice from registration to enforcement.
Tell us what is happening in your own words. We will explain where you stand and what the sensible next step is.
If you want to protect a brand, or someone is already using your mark, copying your work or selling counterfeits, a trademark lawyer in Dubai can tell you where you stand and what to do first. MBM advises brand owners, creators and businesses on registration, opposition, infringement, copyright, counterfeits and customs recordation, and we handle registration and enforcement together, because what you register decides what you can later enforce. Your first consultation is free and confidential. You do not have to work this out alone: we explain each step in plain English and make sure you always know where the matter stands.
Pick the situation closest to yours. Each card says what we look at first.
You want your name or logo protected in the UAE. First we check: whether the mark is distinctive, whether a similar mark already exists and what you plan to sell. See trademark registration, or talk to us about registering a mark.
A competitor, seller or former partner is using your name or logo. First we check: what is registered, what is being done and at what scale. See trademark infringement, or talk to us about an infringement.
Your design, text, image, software or music is being used without permission. First we check: when and how it was created, who copied it and where. See copyright, or talk to us about copied work.
Counterfeit goods carry your brand. First we check: the goods, who makes or sells them and whether your mark is registered and recorded. See counterfeits and customs, or talk to us about counterfeits.
Your brand or content appears on a marketplace, website or social media account. First we check: the listing or account, the evidence and the platform's process. See online infringement, or talk to us about online copying.
A former employee, partner or licensee has taken or used confidential information. First we check: what was taken, what the contracts say and what evidence there is. See trade secrets, or talk to us about confidential information.
Intellectual property covers several different rights, so the first useful question is which one your matter is about. This section explains what MBM covers and what to ask any firm before you instruct it.
Intellectual property lawyers in Dubai may work on very different problems, from filing a new mark to stopping a copy. MBM's IP work on this page covers:
If you are comparing intellectual property law firms in Dubai, the same few questions are worth asking of each one, including us:
Brand protection usually means two things at once: making sure what you own is registered, and acting when it is copied. In practice that means clearance and registration of the mark, customs recordation where counterfeits are a risk, and a measured route from a formal letter to civil or criminal enforcement. If you only need enforcement, or searched for an "IP enforcement lawyer Dubai", the starting point is still what is registered. We do not promise any outcome, and we tell you honestly when a negotiated result serves the brand better than a long case.
Trademark lawyers in Dubai may act at the filing stage, in an opposition or when a mark is being used by someone else. Tell us which stage you are at and we explain what to check first. See trademark registration and trademark infringement.
UAE copyright is governed by the Copyright and Neighbouring Rights Law (Federal Decree-Law No. 38 of 2021). Protection arises automatically on creation, with no registration requirement, though formal recordal can strengthen enforcement. Trademarks, by contrast, require registration. They are governed by Federal Decree-Law No. 36 of 2021, and Cabinet Decision No. 57 of 2022 is its executive regulation. As we understand it, patents and designs are under Federal Decree-Law 11 of 2021. Requirements change, so we confirm the current position at your first consultation.
UAE Customs operates a trademark recordal system allowing border seizure of counterfeit goods bearing a recorded mark, a genuinely under-used tool for many brands. Recordation needs a prior Ministry of Economy registration, is per emirate and covers goods only. Customs reportedly gives about three working days to respond after detention. This page describes the general framework. It is not advice on your matter.
| Right | How it is protected | What we check |
|---|---|---|
| Trademark | By registration under the current trademark regulations | Whether it is registered, pending or not yet filed |
| Copyright | Automatically on creation, with no registration requirement | Evidence of creation and ownership; recordal can help |
| Trade secrets and confidential information | By contract, confidentiality duties and the circumstances of the use | What was agreed, what was taken and the evidence |
| Border protection | Trademark recordal with UAE Customs | Whether your mark is registered and recorded |
Trademark registration in Dubai is an administrative process, and its first stage, choosing and checking the mark, is where most problems are avoided. Registration generally involves an application, examination and a publication period during which third parties may oppose the registration. We do not state fees on this page, because they depend on the mark, the classes and the current rules. Publication is generally followed by a 30-day opposition period, and registration lasts 10 years and is renewable.
Before filing, we check whether the mark is distinctive and whether similar marks already exist, so you do not invest in a mark that will be refused or opposed.
The application covers the goods and services you will use the mark for. Getting the scope right avoids both gaps and unnecessary cost.
We prepare and file the application under the current trademark regulations, including the mark, the owner details and the goods and services.
The application is examined, and objections may have to be answered.
The mark is published for a period during which third parties may oppose. We act for you if someone opposes your mark, or if you want to oppose another mark.
Once registered, you have rights to enforce. We then advise on keeping the registration current and on customs recordation.
We act on either side of an opposition: defending your application if someone opposes it, or opposing a third party's mark that is too close to yours. A registered mark may also be challenged afterwards on specific grounds.
A trademark registration dispute can arise when your application is opposed, when an objection is raised during examination, or when a registered mark is challenged afterwards on specific grounds. We look first at the application, the grounds raised and the evidence of use, and then at whether to answer, negotiate or contest.
What we handle on registration:
A company abroad can register a UAE mark, but a foreign company must file through a UAE agent with a notarised, legalised power of attorney and an Arabic translation. MBM does not provide MOFA attestation or embassy legalisation, so we tell you at the outset which steps you need to arrange. See our page on power of attorney for documents signed abroad.
Planning a trademark filing or worried your mark is not protected? Tell us the mark and what you sell, and we will tell you what to check first. Your first consultation is free.
We start by confirming what is registered and what is being done, because the right route depends on both. Where someone is using your mark without permission, we assess the registration, then work up a route from a formal letter to civil action or a criminal complaint.
The enforcement route is usually built in stages. Each one is a decision, not a step that must be taken.
We confirm what is actually protected and what is being done that infringes it.
A properly framed cease and desist letter often resolves a matter without further escalation.
For counterfeiting exposure, we arrange trademark recordal with UAE Customs to enable border seizure.
Where informal steps do not resolve it, we pursue the appropriate route.
For cross-border matters, we coordinate strategy across each relevant jurisdiction.
People often type "someone is using my trademark without permission Dubai" into a search bar. If that is your situation, the first steps are practical. Keep the evidence exactly as it is, note the dates you first used your mark and first saw the use, and do not confront the other party before checking what you are registered for. We then confirm what is protected, what is being done and by whom, and agree whether a formal letter, customs recordation or enforcement is the sensible next step.
A trademark dispute can mean infringement by a seller or competitor, an opposition to an application, a challenge to a registered mark, or a disagreement with a former partner or licensee about who may use a brand. The route differs for each, so we start with the registration position and the documents.
A cross-border dispute means looking at each market where the brand is sold or copied. We coordinate enforcement strategy in each relevant jurisdiction. MBM works with group companies in the UK, Europe, the Middle East and the Gulf, which helps when a matter has an international side. Where a licence or agreement contains an arbitration clause, see arbitration.
Before escalating we also consider the commercial question: whether the aim is to stop the use, to recover losses or to reach a licence or settlement. Sometimes a negotiated outcome serves the brand better than a long case, and we tell you honestly when that is so.
What we handle on infringement:
We advise creators and businesses whose work has been copied or used without permission, relying on the automatic protection that copyright carries from creation. You do not need to register copyright for it to exist, but a formal recordal can strengthen enforcement by providing clearer evidence of ownership and creation date.
What we handle:
Every copyright claim starts with proof: what you made, when, and where the copy appears. Keep the original files and any drafts, save the copy as you found it with its link and date, and note who may have had access to your work. We then advise on whether a letter, a platform request or civil action fits.
Disputes often come down to who owns the work, so check who made it and whether a contract says anything about ownership. See commercial contracts for how ownership clauses work.
We look at what is being sold, by whom and at what scale, and then at the routes available: customs recordation to intercept goods at the border, civil enforcement action against sellers and distributors and, in serious cases, a criminal complaint. Customs recordation in the UAE lets customs authorities intercept and seize counterfeit goods bearing a recorded mark at the border, and for brands facing counterfeiting exposure it is often a cost-effective enforcement tool.
| Route | What it does | When it fits |
|---|---|---|
| Customs recordation | Allows border seizure of counterfeit goods bearing a recorded mark | Where counterfeits may arrive through UAE ports or borders |
| Cease and desist | Puts the seller on notice and may end the conduct | Where the seller is identifiable and may comply |
| Civil enforcement | Claims against sellers and distributors | Where losses or continued sales justify court action. See civil litigation |
| Criminal complaint | A complaint to the authorities in serious cases | Where the scale or nature of the conduct warrants it |
Customs recordation begins with the registration, because recordation needs a prior Ministry of Economy registration, is per emirate and covers goods only. We then arrange the recordal with UAE Customs and advise on what to do if goods are detained.
What we handle:
Online copying is one of the most common IP problems, and the evidence disappears quickly, so capture it first. Whether the use is on a marketplace, a website or a social media account, we look at what is being used, who is behind it and which route fits, from a platform takedown request to a formal letter or a complaint. Where online conduct also raises offences such as fraud or impersonation, see our cybercrime lawyer page. As we understand it, takedowns are dealt with under the cybercrime law, Federal Decree-Law 34/2021.
Take screenshots that show the link, the date and the seller's details, and keep the packaging and invoices of anything you buy. Do not edit the originals. We do not promise that content will be taken down or a seller identified.
We advise where confidential business information has been misused, often by a former employee, partner or licensee. The right step depends on what was agreed, what was taken and the evidence of use.
What we handle on trade secrets:
Licensing agreements should clearly address scope of use, territory, royalties, quality control and termination rights. We draft and review these agreements for licensors and licensees, and coordinate them with your wider corporate and commercial documents.
What we handle:
IP matters are dealt with by registration authorities, customs, the courts and, in serious cases, the criminal authorities. This is a plain-English map; the route depends on the right and the conduct.
| Authority | What it generally deals with | Where it appears on this page |
|---|---|---|
| Trademark registration authorities | Applications, examination and publication of marks | Registration |
| UAE Customs | Border seizure of counterfeit goods bearing a recorded mark | Customs |
| Dubai Courts | Civil enforcement, damages and orders against infringement | Infringement |
| Public Prosecution | Criminal complaints in serious cases | Infringement |
| Arbitration | Disputes under a licence or agreement with an arbitration clause. See arbitration | Licensing |
We agree the scope and fee in writing before paid work begins. These are the steps in the order they usually happen.
You tell us what you own, or want to own, and what is happening. We give you a first view in plain English. The first consultation is free and confidential.
We check what is registered, what is protected automatically and what evidence you hold.
We set out the route, the steps and the fee in writing before paid work begins.
Depending on your aim, we file a mark, send a formal notice or arrange customs recordation.
Where informal steps do not resolve it, we pursue civil or criminal enforcement.
Registrations need keeping up and watching, and we advise on how to keep your rights current.
You do not need any of this to call. Photographs sent by WhatsApp are fine.
Registration and enforcement belong together, so the team that helps you register a mark is the team that can act when it is copied.
Rated 4.9 on Google reviews. MBM is a founder-led team, led by Mohamed Badr with 17 years of legal experience, with litigation and arbitration handled by the same team and offices in Dubai and Sharjah. For brand owners that means one team from registration to enforcement, plain-language advice and a written scope and fee before paid work starts. MBM works with group companies in the UK, Europe, the Middle East and the Gulf, which helps when a matter has an international side. That is useful for brands that sell or are copied across several markets.
If a registration or a claim is weak, we tell you early, before you spend on it.
The same team handles filing, opposition and enforcement, so what is filed fits what you may later need to enforce.
MBM has offices in Dubai (Dubai Media City) and Sharjah (Al Khalidiya). You can meet us at either, speak by phone or send evidence by WhatsApp.
Your first consultation with MBM is free and confidential. If you decide to instruct us, we give you a scope and a fee position in writing before paid work starts, so you know what is covered.
The cost depends on whether the matter is registration, licensing or enforcement, and on its complexity. Official fees, court fees and translation costs are separate from legal fees and depend on the matter. We do not publish a price list. Ask at your first consultation and we will answer directly.
Protecting a brand or stopping a copy in Dubai? Tell us the mark and what is happening. Your first consultation is free and confidential.
Your free first consultation is with a member of MBM’s legal team in Dubai or Sharjah. Brand and creative matters are handled in confidence from the first call.
Founder & Managing Partner
Mohamed Badr leads MBM and has 17 years of legal experience. His career has included roles at law firms and multinational corporations in the UAE, advising businesses on high-stakes disputes, corporate restructuring and commercial litigation.
Names and titles as published on mbm-co.com. Your first consultation is with a member of MBM’s legal team in Dubai or Sharjah.
General information, not advice on your matter. Positions and procedures can change and depend on your specific facts.
We can advise on the strength of your trademark registration, send a formal cease and desist letter and pursue enforcement action where that is needed. Keep the evidence exactly as it is and speak to a lawyer before you contact the other party. Your first consultation with MBM is free.
Registration proceeds under the current trademark regulations, generally involving an application, examination and a publication period during which third parties may oppose the registration. Publication is generally followed by a 30-day opposition period, and registration lasts 10 years and is renewable. MBM can manage this process and advise on the strength of a proposed mark. See trademark registration.
No. Under the Copyright Law (Federal Decree-Law No. 38 of 2021), copyright protection arises automatically on creation, without a registration requirement. A formal copyright recordal can still strengthen enforcement by providing clearer evidence of ownership and creation date.
UAE Customs operates a trademark recordal system that allows customs authorities to intercept and seize counterfeit goods bearing a recorded mark at the border. For brands facing counterfeiting exposure, this is often a cost-effective enforcement tool that is under-used. Recordation needs a prior Ministry of Economy registration, is per emirate and covers goods only.
Options can include customs recordation to intercept goods at the border, civil enforcement against sellers and distributors and, in serious cases, a criminal complaint, depending on the scale and nature of the counterfeiting.
Start by registering it, because a trademark needs registration and enforcement is harder without it. Check first that the mark is distinctive and not too close to an existing one. If counterfeits are a risk, consider customs recordation with UAE Customs, and keep dated evidence of how you use the mark. See trademark registration.
Yes. During the publication period after an application, a third party may file an opposition, and a registered mark can potentially be challenged afterwards on specific grounds. MBM can act on either side of an opposition.
It depends on the facts, and a registered mark is generally easier to enforce. We look at what you have, how long and where you have used it and what the other party is doing, and tell you honestly what is realistic.
A company based abroad can pursue registration, but a foreign company must file through a UAE agent with a notarised, legalised power of attorney and an Arabic translation. MBM does not provide MOFA attestation or embassy legalisation, so we tell you at the outset which steps you need to arrange. See power of attorney.
First capture the listing or account with screenshots showing the link, date and seller details. Then we consider a platform takedown request, a formal letter or a complaint, depending on what is being sold. See cybercrime if the conduct also involves fraud.
Yes, including disputes over misuse of trade secrets or confidential business information, often connected to a former employee, partner or licensee.
Licences should clearly address scope of use, territory, royalties, quality control and termination rights. MBM drafts and reviews these agreements for both licensors and licensees.
Yes. Cross-border IP disputes are common for brands and creators working across several markets, and they typically require coordinating enforcement strategy in each relevant jurisdiction.
The cost depends on whether the matter is registration, licensing or enforcement and on its complexity. MBM gives you a scope and a fee position in writing before you instruct us. Official fees are separate.
Yes. MBM's first consultation is free and confidential. It is a discussion of your brand or work and your options. If you then choose to instruct MBM, we give you a scope and a fee position before paid work starts.
Your first consultation with MBM is free and confidential. Tell us briefly what has happened. A member of MBM’s legal team will review your enquiry and come back to you with the appropriate next step.
If you have photos or links showing the infringement, send them on WhatsApp or attach them when we reply. Please do not delete or edit the originals.
Dubai · Office 3204, Level 32, Business Central Towers – Tower B, Dubai Media City
Sharjah · Office 2001, Level 20, Al Hind Tower, Al Khalidiya District
Tell us what is happening in your own words. We will explain where you stand and what the sensible next step is.
Your first consultation is free and confidential. Tell us whether you want to register a mark or stop someone using yours, and we will explain the options and the sensible first step.
