On 15 July 2026, the UAE Ministry of Economy updated its practical guidance on one-day trademark examination and multi-class filings. Applicants may opt for examination within one working day for an official fee of AED 2,250, compared with AED 750 for the standard examination route. The accelerated service may be useful where a product launch, transaction closing or online enforcement action depends on faster progress, but it does not relax the substantive test for registrability.
The update also confirms that applications filed in 2026 should be prepared under the 13th edition of the Nice Classification, with more specific wording expected for virtual goods, NFT-related digital content and certain AI software services. Broad terms such as “virtual goods” or “AI services” may still trigger objections if the function, downloadable nature or mode of delivery is unclear. Businesses considering one-day examination should therefore complete clearance, classification and specification review before paying the expedited fee. A multi-class filing can reduce filing steps, but a defect in one class may still disrupt the expected timetable for the application as a whole.
