Time and cost of filing a patent application in the UAE

Patent applications in the UAE typically take three to five years, or even longer, from the time the application is filed to the time the application is granted. Examination times in the UAE are often affected by the complexity of the invention, the time it takes the applicant to respond to the examination opinion, and the backlog at the UAE Patent Office.

The cost of filing a patent application in the UAE varies depending on whether you use a patent agent or attorney, the complexity of the invention, the different technical fields, the need for translations, and the number of office actions. Typically, applicants can expect to spend anywhere from $5,000 to $15,000 or more. These costs include the application fee, translation costs, attorney fees for drafting and prosecution, and possibly annual maintenance fees.

Expedited review process

According to the UAE's Federal Law No. 11 of 2021 on Industrial Property Rights, applicants can request accelerated examination, reducing the examination time from the previous 42 months to just six months, in line with the best practices of leading patent offices worldwide. To do so, patent applicants must pay AED 2,000 to request accelerated examination and receive the first office action within six months.