Guide to Trademark Amendments and Franchising

Quick Navigation:
What Are Trademark Amendments and Franchising?
Types of Trademark Amendments in the UAE
Fees, Documents and Timelines
How to Amend a Trademark in the UAE
How Franchising Uses Your Trademark
Recording a Trademark Licence with MoET
Registered vs Unregistered Franchises
Licence vs Transfer
Expanding Across the GCC
Pre-Franchise Checklist
FAQs

Introduction
This guide to trademark amendments and franchising is for UAE brand owners who already hold a registered trademark. It also helps franchisors and franchisees who plan to share a brand. A registered mark can grow with your business. You can update its logo, owner details and goods list. You can also license it to a franchisee. This guide explains each change, the Ministry of Economy & Tourism (MoET) fees, the documents you need, and how franchising depends on your trademark. New to registration? Start with our trademark registration in UAE service.

What Are Trademark Amendments and Franchising?

What Is a Trademark Amendment?

A trademark amendment is an official change to a registered trademark record. The owner files it with the UAE Ministry of Economy & Tourism (MoET). The change can cover the logo, the goods or services list, or the owner's details.

The mark keeps its original registration number and filing date. This is the main benefit of an amendment over a new filing. Your protection history stays intact.

What Is Trademark Franchising?

Trademark franchising is a business model where a brand owner licenses its trademark to another business. The brand owner is the franchisor. The business that uses the brand is the franchisee.

The franchisee pays fees or royalties. In return, it trades under the franchisor's name, logo and system. The trademark licence sits at the centre of every franchise agreement.

How Trademark Amendments and Franchising Connect

A strong trademark gives every franchise a strong foundation. Franchisees invest in a brand that the franchisor owns. A valid, accurate and up-to-date registration gives them confidence. Three moments link trademark amendments and franchising:

• Before franchising: you update the record so the owner name, address and goods list match your business today.
• During franchising: you record the licence so the franchisee's right to use the mark is on file.
• After a rebrand: you amend the logo so every outlet trades under a protected version.

The UAE governs trademarks under Federal Decree-Law No. 36 of 2021 on Trademarks. It came into force on 2 January 2022 and replaced the older 1992 law.

Types of Trademark Amendments in the UAE

MoET offers four main amendment services for a registered mark. Each one has its own application, documents and fee.

Logo Amendment

A logo amendment updates or adds to the design of your registered mark. MoET accepts changes that keep the mark's core identity. A refreshed font, a cleaner icon or a small colour update usually fits this rule.

MoET publishes approved amendments in the Official Trademark Bulletin. A 30-day public review period then follows. Read the official MoET trademark amendment service page for current terms.

Adding Goods or Services

This service adds products or services to an existing registration. The new items must belong to the same class as the original registration. Classes follow the international Nice Classification system.

For example, a café registered in Class 43 can add catering services. Packaged coffee sits in Class 30, so the café adds it through a new application in that class.

Changing Owner Name or Address

This service updates the owner's name, title, occupation, nationality or address for correspondence. You need documents that prove the change, such as an amended trade licence.

Companies often need this after a restructure, a name change or an office move. An accurate record helps every later filing, including licences and renewals.

Changing Your Trademark Agent

A registered agent files on your behalf and receives official notices. You can replace the agent on record at any time. The mark must be registered and valid, and MoET publishes the change in the bulletin.

When to File a New Trademark

Some changes are best handled through a new trademark application:

• A new brand name or a completely different logo
• Goods or services in a different Nice class
• A change that creates a new brand identity

A new filing receives its own filing date and examination. Many brand owners keep the existing mark active while the new one registers. See how to register a trademark in the UAE for the full filing process.

Trademark Amendment Fees, Documents and Timelines

Here is what trademark amendments and franchising cost in the UAE. Most trademark record changes cost AED 1,100, and a licence or transfer costs AED 2,000. Each fee combines a MoET service fee with an AED 750 publication fee for the Official Trademark Bulletin.

Fees and timelines are as listed by MoET in October 2026. Confirm the current fee on the service page before you file.

Foreign owners follow a few extra paperwork steps. A power of attorney signed abroad usually needs notarisation, legalisation and an Arabic translation. Our document attestation team handles this chain, from the home-country notary to MOFA in the UAE.

How to Amend a Trademark in the UAE: Step by Step

You file every amendment online through the MoET e-services portal. The process follows five steps.

1. Confirm the right service. Match your change to the correct MoET service in the table above. The right service choice keeps your file moving smoothly.
2. Prepare your documents. Gather the registration certificate, trade licence and proof of the change. Foreign owners also prepare a notarised and legalised power of attorney.
3. Log in and apply. Sign in to the MoET website with UAE PASS. Fill in the application and attach your documents.
4. Pay the fees. Pay the service and publication fees online. MoET then refers the application to the trademark department for review.
5. Publication and public review. MoET publishes the approved change in the Official Trademark Bulletin. The record updates after the 30-day public review period.

A licensed agent can file all five steps for you. This is the usual route for owners based outside the UAE.

How Franchising Uses Your Trademark

The Licence at the Core of Every Franchise

Every franchise agreement grants the franchisee a licence to use the franchisor's trademark. This licence gives the franchisee the right to trade under the brand. The licence defines where, how and for how long the franchisee may use the mark.

Under UAE law, a trademark owner can license one or more people. The licence can cover all or only some of the registered goods and services. This lets a franchisor grant different licences for different product lines.

Exclusive vs Non-Exclusive Licences

An exclusive licence gives one franchisee sole rights in a defined area. The owner reserves that area for that franchisee. A non-exclusive licence lets the owner appoint several franchisees in the same area.

Choose the model that fits your growth plan. Exclusive rights suit a master franchisee who builds a whole market. Non-exclusive rights suit a brand that wants many operators.

Quality Control Clauses

Quality control protects the brand that the trademark represents. The franchise agreement should set standards for products, service, store design and use of the logo. Strong clauses usually cover:

• Approved logo versions and brand guidelines
• Product and supplier standards
• Inspection and audit rights
• Support steps that bring an outlet back to standard

Clear standards also support brand protection. For your enforcement options, see our guide to trademark infringement in the UAE.

Franchise manuals, recipes in print, training videos and design files are creative works. You can protect them with copyright registration alongside your trademark.

Recording a Trademark Licence with MoET

Is Licence Recordal Optional Under the 2021 Law?

Yes. Federal Decree-Law No. 36 of 2021 made licence recordal a choice for the parties. A written, notarised licence is effective between the parties on its own.

Recordal is still a strong option in trademark amendments and franchising. Most UAE franchise parties choose to record the trademark licence with MoET.

Benefits of Recording a Licence

A recorded licence puts the franchisee's rights on the public register. This brings practical benefits:

• Public notice: third parties can see who is authorised to use the mark.
• Clear evidence: the register shows the licence scope if a dispute arises.
• Customs and enforcement support: authorities can check who has a right to use the brand.
• Investor confidence: franchisees and their banks can verify the licence.

The MoET licence service costs AED 2,000 and needs a notarised and certified licence agreement. A licence runs within the term of the trademark registration. Timely renewal keeps every licence active.

Cancelling a Recorded Licence

A franchise relationship may reach the end of its term or move to a new partner. Either the owner or the licensee can then ask MoET to cancel the recorded licence. The licence cancellation service costs AED 1,100 and needs an official letter giving the reason.

Close the previous licence before you record a new franchisee. A clear register shows exactly who holds the rights.

Registered vs Unregistered Franchises in the UAE

UAE franchises operate under general commercial laws rather than a single franchise statute. A franchise comes under Federal Law No. 3 of 2022 on Commercial Agencies once the parties register it with MoET. An unregistered franchise operates as a standard commercial contract under the Civil Transactions Law and the Commercial Transactions Law.

Which Route Fits Your Business?

A franchisor often prefers an unregistered franchise for its flexibility. A UAE-owned franchisee may prefer registration for its stronger protection. The right choice depends on the territory, the investment size and the partner's ownership.

The MoET commercial agency registration page lists the contract terms the agreement must state. These include both parties' names, exclusivity, location, products, term and approval for registration.

Both routes still need a valid, registered trademark. The franchisee also needs its own trade licence. Our mainland company registration service helps franchisees set up an entity that can trade across the UAE.

Licence vs Transfer: Which Do You Need?

In trademark amendments and franchising, a licence lets another business use your mark while you keep ownership. A transfer moves ownership of the mark, with all its rights, to a new owner. Franchising almost always uses a licence.

Some groups move the trademark into a holding company before franchising. That step is a transfer, followed by licences to each franchisee. Read our full guide to trademark ownership transfer for that process.

Expanding a Franchise Across the GCC and Beyond

A UAE registration protects your mark across all seven emirates. Each GCC country runs its own trademark office. Plan trademark amendments and franchising rights in every market before a franchisee opens there.

Saudi Arabia is often the first GCC market after the UAE. Start with trademark registration in Saudi Arabia through the Saudi Authority for Intellectual Property (SAIP).

For wider expansion, the Madrid System lets you protect a mark in many countries through one WIPO application. It also lets you record changes, such as a new owner or address, in one place. Our international trademark registration service manages these filings. You can also read the power of international trademark registration.

Foreign franchisors who want a UAE base can read our guide on company registration in the UAE.

Pre-Franchise Trademark Checklist

Complete these trademark amendments and franchising checks in order before you sign your first franchise agreement.

1. Confirm the mark is registered in the UAE, in every class the franchise will use
2. Check the renewal date, and renew if it falls within the franchise term
3. Update the owner name and address so they match your current trade licence
4. Amend the logo if your outlets will use a refreshed design
5. Add any new goods or services within the registered class
6. Register the mark in each GCC or overseas market you plan to enter
7. Protect franchise manuals and design files with copyright registration
8. Draft the licence terms: territory, exclusivity, term and quality control
9. Notarise the licence and attest any documents signed abroad
10. Decide between a registered commercial agency and an unregistered franchise
11. Record the trademark licence with MoET
12. Plan outlet signage to match the approved logo and Dubai signage rules

FAQs About Trademark Amendments and Franchising

How Stepping Stones Helps

Stepping Stones manages trademark amendments and franchising filings, including licence recordals, for UAE and international brands. Our team prepares your documents, files with MoET and tracks each application to completion. We help you:

• Choose the right MoET service for each change
• Prepare and attest powers of attorney and licence agreements
• Record franchise licences and close previous ones
• Extend protection across the GCC and through the Madrid System

Related Services and Guides

Stepping Stones services:

• Trademark Registration – Protect your brand in the UAE, GCC and worldwide
• International Trademark Registration – File once through the Madrid System
• Document Attestation – Legalise powers of attorney and franchise contracts
• Mainland Company Registration – Set up a franchisee entity in the UAE
• PRO Support and Visa – Government paperwork handled for you

Related guides:

• How to Register a Trademark in the UAE
• Trademark Ownership Transfer
• Essential Guide to Trademark Infringement in UAE
• The Power of International Trademark Registration

External Resources

• MoET – Trademark Amendment – Official fees, documents and steps
• MoET – Licence Use of Trademark – Licence recordal service
• MoET – Register Commercial Agency – Registered franchise route
• Federal Decree-Law No. 36 of 2021 on Trademarks – The current UAE trademark law
• WIPO Madrid System – International registration and changes
• WIPO Nice Classification – Official class definitions

Next Steps: Prepare Your Brand to Franchise

Good planning for trademark amendments and franchising gives every franchisee a secure brand to build on. Update your record, record your licences and register in each new market before you expand.

Speak to our trademark team for a free consultation on your amendment or franchise plan. You can also WhatsApp us for a quick answer.