UAE Trademark Registration Does Not Automatically Protect a Franchise Across the GCC
Author : The Law Reporters | Published On : 06 Nov 2026
A successful UAE restaurant brand may attract franchise investors from Saudi Arabia, Qatar and other Gulf markets. Before granting regional franchise rights, the owner must establish whether its trademarks are protected in the proposed countries.
Trademark rights are territorial. Registration in the UAE does not automatically provide equivalent protection across the Gulf Cooperation Council.
Although GCC countries have adopted common trademark principles, there is no single central registration granting automatic protection throughout all six member states.
In the UAE, Federal Decree-Law No. 36 of 2021 on Trademarks and Cabinet Resolution No. 57 of 2022 regulate important aspects of registration and protection.
Registered UAE trademarks generally receive ten years of protection from the filing date, renewable for further ten-year periods.
Articles 30 and 31 of the Trademark Law address licensing, including the requirement for a written agreement.
Franchise contracts should identify the registered marks, permitted territories, authorised products and restrictions on sublicensing.
Businesses should also examine quality-control obligations and what happens to branding when the franchise relationship ends.
Before expanding, owners should search for conflicting marks and secure appropriate rights in each target market.
A recognised brand is a valuable commercial asset, but its protection requires deliberate legal planning.
