How can I assign, sell or license my trademark in the UAE?

A registered UAE trademark is a property right that you can sell (assign) outright or license to others to use, under the federal trademark law (Federal Decree-Law No. 36 of 2021). An assignment transfers ownership of the mark to a new owner, while a licence lets a third party use the mark on agreed terms — for example exclusively or non-exclusively, for certain goods, territories or a set period — without giving up ownership. To be effective and enforceable against third parties, transfers and licences generally need to be properly documented and recorded with the Ministry of Economy's trademark registry, so the register reflects the current owner and any licensees. Getting this right matters: an unrecorded transfer can create confusion about who actually holds the rights, and a poorly drafted licence can leave quality control, royalties or termination unclear. For franchising and distribution especially, the trademark licence is often central to the deal. Confirm the recordal requirements with the Ministry of Economy. A UAE IP lawyer on LEXAI can draft the assignment or licence and handle the registry recordal.