United Arab Emirates: registering your trademark in Class 33 is now possible
[16/09/2026]
From 15 September 2026, trademark applications covering alcoholic beverages in Class 33 will be possible in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), bringing the country into line with the Nice Classification and the Madrid System, of which it has been a member since 28 September 2021.
This development opens up new opportunities for businesses in the wine, spirits and alcoholic beverages sector, which until now had been limited to protecting their trademarks solely for non-alcoholic beverages in Class 32.
Practice is therefore also evolving in Class 32: beer can now be designated there, in accordance with the Nice Classification.
What are the impacts for trademark owners?
- New applications
For any current or planned business activity in the UAE relating to alcoholic beverages: an application in Class 33 (and in Class 32 for beer) should be considered, either via a national application or by subsequent designation through the Madrid System (WIPO), which allows the protection of a pre-existing international trademark to be extended to this territory in line with your trademark portfolio.
- Existing trademarks in Class 32
Your trademarks already registered in the UAE for non-alcoholic beverages remain important: they will be taken into account by the Office when examining the availability of subsequent applications in Class 33.
- Monitoring
The territorial scope of the monitoring of your trademarks in classes 32 and/or 33 will need to be extended to the United Arab Emirates in the event of new applications being filed in that territory.
Our teams are available to review your trademark portfolio and advise you on this new opportunity to file applications in the United Arab Emirates.