UAE waives IP filing fees for student inventors

The UAE has waived a range of intellectual property fees for two groups: student inventors and People of Determination. The change took effect on 14 September 2026, and it was widely reported on 11 October.

What changed

The exemptions come from Cabinet Resolution No. 136 of 2026, issued on 24 July and published in the Official Gazette on 14 August, according to Gulf News. The fees concerned are collected by the Ministry of Economy and Tourism under the federal law on industrial property rights, Federal Law No. 11 of 2021.

The Ministry said the resolution covers 29 services in total, as reported by The National. Eleven are shared by both groups and include patent and industrial design filings and annual protection fees for years two to five. A further nine apply only to People of Determination, and nine different ones apply only to student inventors. Gulf News reports that the extra services mostly relate to technical examination and review of patent and utility model applications.

Fee levels

The National reports that the shared services previously cost between Dh100 and Dh1,000 each. The additional services for People of Determination carried fees of up to Dh9,000, while those for student inventors cost up to Dh4,500.

Gulf News notes that the resolution does not remove every patent-related charge for every applicant, so the list of exempt services matters. Anyone planning a filing should check which numbered services apply to them.

Why it matters for residents and businesses

For universities, schools running innovation programmes and families supporting a young inventor, the waiver lowers the cost of protecting an idea. For People of Determination who run small businesses or develop products, it removes a notable part of the filing and examination costs.

The Ministry's figures point to growing activity. It said patent applications rose 9 per cent in the first half of 2026 compared with the same period of 2025, and utility certificate applications rose 21 per cent. Abdulrahman Al Muaini, the Ministry's Assistant Undersecretary for the Intellectual Property Sector, said the resolution supports a legislative environment aligned with international standards.

What to check

Applicants should confirm eligibility rules and the exact service numbers with the Ministry of Economy and Tourism before filing, as the reports do not explain how eligibility is verified.