How to Register a U.S. Trademark From the UAE: Step-by-Step
A practical walkthrough for Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah-based applicants.
Whether you're running a DMCC trading company, an IFZA-licensed e-commerce brand, or a mainland UAE business, the steps to file a U.S. trademark are the same regardless of your free-zone structure.
Step 1: Choose your applicant name carefully
Decide whether the trademark should be owned by your free-zone company, a mainland entity, or you personally. This matters for enforcement and licensing later.
Step 2: Search before you file
A preliminary search checks for identical or clearly conflicting marks before you commit to filing. For crowded categories like beauty or supplements, our detailed search goes further.
Step 3: Nail down your goods/services description
Amazon FBA sellers in particular should describe their goods precisely — "cosmetic skincare creams" is very different from "cosmetics" in how broadly it's interpreted, and affects your class selection.
Step 4: Gather your applicant details
You'll need your trade license details, registered UAE address, and evidence of current or planned use in the U.S. market.
As a UAE-domiciled applicant, you're required to be represented by a U.S.-licensed attorney before the USPTO — a UAE free-zone license, U.S. registered agent, or U.S. bank account does not change this. See our foreign-applicant guide.
Step 5: File with the USPTO
We prepare and coordinate the filing, including payment of the USPTO's $350 per-class government fee, separate from our $150 service fee.
Step 6: Monitor the application
We track your case and flag any Office Actions or other USPTO correspondence that needs a response.
See our full trademark process page, or our dedicated guide for UAE businesses.
Start Your Trademark Application