UAE Reviews Resolution Waiving Industrial Property Fees for Students and People of Determination

The UAE Ministry of Economy and Tourism (MOET) reviewed Cabinet Resolution No. 136 of 2026 concerning the exemption of student inventors and People of Determination in the UAE from certain industrial property service fees, according to the Emirates News Agency (WAM).

The resolution, which took effect on September 14, 2026, covers full fee exemptions across 29 services administered by the ministry. These include procedures for patents, industrial designs, utility certificates, and integrated circuit layouts.

Under the framework, both student inventors and People of Determination are exempt from fees across 11 shared services. These encompass registration applications for patents, industrial designs, utility certificates, and integrated circuit layouts, as well as the first substantive examination and re-examination of utility certificates, publication of registration, and annual protection fees covering years two through five. The original fees for these shared services ranged from Dh100 to Dh1,000.

In addition to the shared services, People of Determination are exempt from fees on nine separate services originally costing between Dh1,000 and Dh9,000. Student inventors receive exemptions on nine further services that previously carried fees ranging from Dh500 to Dh4,500.

Dr. Abdulrahman Hassan Al Muaini, Assistant Undersecretary for the Intellectual Property Sector at MOET, stated that the Cabinet resolution aligns with the UAE's efforts to develop a legislative environment supporting inventors and consolidating the country's position as an innovation hub.