The year 2025 has been marked by rapid evolution in the IP landscape across the Middle East and the broader African continent. This comprehensive transformation encompasses significant shifts, including fee restructures, accessions to new international treaties, judicial reforms, and alterations to enforcement mechanisms. At JAH Intellectual Property, we have maintained meticulous vigilance over these developments throughout the year. We have therefore prepared a summary report that meticulously encompasses the most salient legislative and procedural changes across key jurisdictions, as shown below.
United Arab Emirates: The UAE implemented a major overhaul of its trademark system via Cabinet Resolution No. (102) of 2025, which took effect in late November, offering a 50% fee exemption for registered SMEs and a full exemption for “People of Determination” on trademark services. New services were introduced, notably the One-Day Trademark Examination. Furthermore, the individual fee for designating the UAE under the Madrid Protocol was reduced to 1,420 CHF per class, effective November 2, 2025. In the patent field, cooperation was enhanced with the United States through a Joint Statement of Intent with the USPTO to recognize positive US examination results, thereby expediting the local patent granting process. Separately, JAH Intellectual Property was officially listed as a service provider on the newly established AD.iP online portal.
Qatar: Qatar’s Trademark Office saw significant modernization, launching a trial phase for digital enhancements that include the electronic publication of the Official Gazette and the issuance of electronic Certificates of Registration. All new trademark applications are now mandated to strictly adhere to the 11th Edition of the Nice Classification, requiring a detailed and specific list of goods/services and eliminating the broad use of class headings. Following its accession to the Madrid Protocol, the office officially commenced the publication process for International Trademark Registrations designating Qatar, initiating the 60-day opposition period, and concurrently decreased the individual fee for designation. The country also formalized the filing procedure for Industrial Designs applications with the commencement of physical reception, rendering previous Cautionary Notices unnecessary.
Saudi Arabia (SAIP): The Saudi Authority for Intellectual Property (SAIP) tightened its enforcement of the Patent Law for applications filed from December 2023 onwards, now strictly requiring that the entity paying annuities must be the designated agent of service supported by a formally executed PoA. SAIP also expanded its international cooperation by officially designating the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) as an International Searching Authority (ISA) and an International Preliminary Examining Authority (IPEA) under the PCT.
Oman: Oman established a new specialized judicial body, the Court of Investment and Commerce, effective October 1, 2025, which was granted exclusive jurisdiction over a wide range of commercial and investment disputes, including matters related to Patents, Trademarks, Industrial Designs, and Trade Secrets. Concurrently, the Ministry of Commerce, Industry, and Investment Promotion ceased accepting refund requests for publication and/or registration fees submitted to the Trademarks Office, enforcing the policy that applicants are not entitled to a refund in the event of withdrawal or refusal.
Libya: The official fee structure for trademark renewals for foreign owners was confirmed, setting the cost at USD 2,000 per year, which can be paid annually or as a lump sum of USD 20,000 for the full ten-year renewal period. The renewal period remains ten years, and the fees are the same whether filed on time or within the six-month grace period.
Yemen (Sanaa’ & Aden): Yemen’s Trademark Office (TMO) in Sanaa’ removed the prior restriction on the number of goods and services that can be included in a single trademark application, now allowing an unlimited number of items within a single class, though items beyond the initial ten incur a 5% publication surcharge. In Aden, a strict new requirement was imposed for Class 05 (Pharmaceuticals) trademark applications: applicants must submit a declaration stating the mark is registered solely for protection and will not be used in Yemen, as actual use requires a separate license from the Supreme Authority for Medicines. Additionally, the Aden TMO now requires MoFA attestation for all Powers of Attorney (POA), aligning with Sana’a’s practice. However, the Aden Patent Office remains unable to process patent filings and grants due to a lack of technical resources and expertise.
Egypt: The Egyptian Patent Office saw a significant fee overhaul in 2025, starting with a decision in June that doubled the official patent examination fees from EGP 25,000 to EGP 50,000 and drastically shortened the payment deadline from six months to just three months from the notification date. A separate decision introduced a new late examination fee of EGP 25,000 for requests submitted after the initial three-month statutory period. Finally, a sweeping revision of official fees across patents, utility models, plant varieties, and copyrights took effect in October, introducing new charges and increasing existing fees across a wider range of services.
Iraq-Baghdad: The Iraqi Trademark Office implemented a significant overhaul by adopting the 11th Edition of the Nice Classification, aligning the country with international standards by departing from its national sub-class system.
Turkey: Turkey modified its fee structure for international designations under the Madrid Protocol, resulting in a slight reduction of the individual fee for both international application/subsequent designation and renewal, effective December 12, 2025. The office also introduced sub-classes in the classification of goods and services, particularly affecting Class 35 (retail/wholesale services), and implemented a new fee structure for applications utilizing multiple, optional subclasses within 35.5 to discourage overly broad filings.
Bahrain: Bahrain expanded its expedited patent network by signing agreements to implement the Patent Prosecution Highway (PPH) program with South Korea and the European Patent Office (EPO), which allows for faster processing by leveraging existing approvals from these foreign offices. A separate MoU with Japan was signed to launch a bilateral PPH program effective January 1, 2026. On the trademark side, the country officially transitioned to the 12th Edition of the Nice Classification of Goods and Services, effective April 9, 2025.
West Bank: The Ministry of National Economy implemented new trademark registration amendments that allow applications to be filed without documents if a one-month extension letter is submitted concurrently, an extension that can be further extended up to 12 months for a fee. Applicants can also request a one-month suspension of the application, extendable up to 12 months or further for amicable settlement or contentious actions, subject to the Registrar’s approval.
Syria: The Trademark Office announced a significant increase in the official fees for trademarks and designs, effective under Ministerial Decision 1448/2025, and this new fee structure is retrospectively applicable to all pending applications for which fees have not yet been settled.
Iran: Iran fully transitioned its publication process to digital format, with all accepted trademark applications and post-registration actions now published electronically on the Intellectual Property System website, a change that cancelled all previously applicable publication fees.
Jordan: New agricultural regulations governing plant variety registration changed the annuity payment schedule. The regulations also permit all plant varieties for registration, with the exception of those specifically prohibited from production or distribution under Jordanian law.
Lebanon: The Trademark Office simplified the trademark assignment process by reverting to a previous practice that no longer requires the submission of the original trademark registration certificate for endorsement; only a Power of Attorney, a Deed of Assignment, and a scanned copy of the registration certificate are now required.
Kuwait: The Trademarks Department of the Kuwaiti Ministry of Commerce & Industry (MOCI) officially relocated its office to a new premise in the Ishbiliya area, effective October 12, 2025.
Tanzania: A mandatory trademark rights recordation system for all goods imported into Mainland Tanzania, managed by the Fair Competition Commission (FCC), became effective on December 1, 2025, requiring all associated trademarks to be formally recorded to ensure compliance. This is separate from the major development involving the Court of Appeal of Tanzania, which ruled that Tanzania has not locally ratified the Banjul Protocol, thus making trademark registration through ARIPO’s Banjul system unenforceable under domestic law; consequently, ARIPO announced that Tanzania is ineligible for designation under the Banjul Protocol until the legal status is resolved.
Ethiopia: Ethiopia formally deposited its instrument of accession to the Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property on May 15, 2025, with the Convention entering into force on August 15, 2025, strengthening the legal framework for IP rights. The Ethiopian Intellectual Property Authority (EIPA) also began publishing accepted trademarks on its website effective March 26, supplementing the Ethiopian Press Agency publication practice; the online service is currently at no cost, but future fees are anticipated.
Mauritius: Mauritius officially deposited its instrument of Accession to the ARIPO Harare Protocol (Patents, Utility Models, Industrial Designs) on May 27, 2025, making the Protocol effective on August 27, 2025. This allows for the designation of Mauritius in ARIPO patent, utility model, and industrial design applications, though the country remains not a member of the Banjul Protocol (Trademarks).
Ghana: The Industrial Property Office issued a compliance notice reminding agents that Powers of Attorney (POAs) must be printed on the applicant company’s letterhead and bear its official stamp/seal (if available), and must clearly state the personal name, designation, and signature of the authorized signatory/proprietor and the witness.
Nepal: The Department of Industry (DOI) announced the initial suspension of trademark requirements and actions due to file destruction from nationwide unrest. The DOI has since resumed full operations, and is now accepting the filing of all Intellectual Property applications, including Trademarks, Patents, and Industrial Designs.
Should you require specific advice on any of these changes, or wish to instruct us to take action on your existing filings, please do not hesitate to reach out to our dedicated team.
JAH Intellectual Property is looking forward to continuing to protect your intellectual assets.
