The United Arab Emirates has introduced extensive government fee exemptions covering 29 industrial property services, with certain services previously carrying fees of up to AED 9,000. The initiative is intended to reduce financial barriers for eligible applicants, encourage innovation, and strengthen the protection of intellectual property rights across the country.

The Ministry of Economy and Tourism outlined the exemptions in an official announcement published on October 11, 2026, confirming that the measures implement Cabinet Resolution No. 136 of 2026, which took effect on September 14, 2026.

The resolution specifically benefits student inventors and People of Determination in the UAE, providing complete exemptions from fees for selected services associated with registering and protecting industrial property rights.

According to the Ministry, the exemptions cover 29 services divided into three categories. Eleven services are available to both eligible groups, while nine additional services are designated for People of Determination and another nine for student inventors.

The shared exemptions include applications for patents, industrial designs, integrated circuit layout designs and utility certificates. They also cover certain examination procedures, publication of registrations and annual protection fees for designated years.

More specifically, eligible applicants are exempt from paying annual industrial property protection fees for the second, third, fourth and fifth years, along with other covered procedures. The original fees for the eleven shared services ranged from AED 100 to AED 1,000.

People of Determination benefit from nine additional exemptions covering services whose original fees ranged between AED 1,000 and AED 9,000. The measure is designed to improve access to intellectual property protection without requiring eligible applicants to pay the specified government service fees.

Student inventors receive exemptions for a separate group of nine additional services, originally priced between AED 500 and AED 4,500. These exemptions are intended to help students protect their inventions, research outcomes and innovative projects while encouraging their development into commercially valuable intellectual property.

The decision forms part of broader efforts to strengthen the UAE’s innovation ecosystem by reducing financial obstacles associated with obtaining legal protection for inventions and industrial designs.

However, the exemptions are limited to the eligible categories and services specified in the resolution. They do not represent a general cancellation of government fees or an automatic waiver for all citizens and residents seeking intellectual property registration.

Dr Abdulrahman Hassan Al Muaini, Assistant Undersecretary for the Intellectual Property Sector at the Ministry of Economy and Tourism, explained that the initiative supports the UAE’s efforts to create a comprehensive regulatory environment for intellectual property protection.

He emphasised the importance of encouraging creativity, supporting talented individuals and enabling inventors to participate more effectively in the national innovation and intellectual property ecosystem.

The Ministry is also continuing to improve its digital intellectual property services, including systems for patents, industrial designs and utility certificates. These improvements are intended to streamline registration procedures, improve operational efficiency and deliver more accessible government services.

Official figures indicate that patent applications increased by 9% during the first half of 2026 compared with the corresponding period in 2025, while utility certificate applications recorded growth of 21.43%.

The Ministry also reported approximately 4,361 patent applications during 2025. The combined number of registered patents, utility certificates and industrial designs reached 22,184 according to figures disclosed in October 2026.

The exemptions represent an opportunity for eligible student inventors and People of Determination to protect their innovative work while avoiding the original fees associated with the covered services.

Applicants are encouraged to consult the Ministry of Economy and Tourism’s official digital channels to review the eligible services, confirm the relevant requirements and verify their entitlement before submitting applications.

Source: UAE Ministry of Economy and Tourism