Registration of software intellectual property rights in the United Arab Emirates (with the UAE Ministry of Economy). Service offer

• Software source code (listing) in text format; its title page has to include information on:
  • Copyright holders,
  • Authors (name, residential address);
• If the software contains a database, the following will have to be provided regarding that database:
  • materials disclosing originality of selection and systematization of the data set included in it; and the identifying materials of the database must include examples of information content of the database (fragments from different files),
  • database block diagrams,
  • catalogues of files and logical block diagrams of documents included in the database;
• Short description of the program and/or database, which has to include:
  • information on authors and copyright holders,
  • the name of the program,
  • information on the purpose, area of application and functionality of the program or database that is being registered,
  • programming language (for a program),
  • type and version of the database management system (for a database),
  • type and version of the operating system,
  • size of the program or database in machine-readable form in kilobytes.

*If the software has already been published, the name and address of the publisher, date and place of the first publication, and the international number (if any) also have to be stated.

(the person who registers the software right):

For legal entities:

• Name, registered address and number of the applicant company;
• The company’s valid license to operate;

For individuals:

• Name, citizenship and residential address;
• Contact phone number;
• UAE ID.

• Name, citizenship and residential address of the software author;
• Contact phone number;
• Copy of passport (or ID card);
• Document proving the relationship between the copyright holder company and the software author (for example, an employment contract).

1. Collection and analysis of all documents required for registration.

During this stage, our specialists study and analyze all the documents you provide and make adjustments (if necessary).

2. Filing of the application through the official portal of the Ministry of Economy and payment of the software registration government fee.

At this stage, our specialists prepare and submit an application for software registration through the official website of the Ministry of Economy. The application is accompanied by a prepared package of documents. Also at this stage, the government fee for software registration is paid.

3. Technical review of the application by an inspector from the Ministry of Economy.

At this stage, the application is checked by the Ministry of Economy for correctness of completion, completeness of information in the documents, as well as completeness of the package of documents.

During this stage, our specialists communicate with representatives of the Ministry of Economy, make adjustments to the documentation if necessary, and send the adjusted and agreed package of documents for re-checking. UAE legislation sets a maximum period of 5 workdays for such a document check.

4. Approval of the application and issuance of a software registration certificate.

During this stage, the Ministry of Economy checks the submitted documents and information about the software for uniqueness and suitability for registration. Sometimes at this stage it may be necessary to submit additional documents and information, but this happens rarely. The period for the application approval procedure is not regulated by law, but in practice this process takes no more than 2 weeks.

Following approval of the application, the UAE Ministry of Economy issues an electronic certificate – Intellectual Works Rights Registration.

[1] The service fees are effective as of January 2025. Issued invoices will include VAT – 5% of provided services.