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Find out moreWelcome to the first edition of Law Update for 2025. As we begin this exciting year, we are pleased to turn our attention to one of the most dynamic sectors in the UAE and the broader GCC region – healthcare. Over the past several years, the region has seen unprecedented growth in this sector, driven by legislative advancements, technological innovations, and the increasing focus on sustainability and AI. As such, healthcare is set to be one of the most important sectors in the coming decade.
In this issue, we explore key themes that are significantly shaping the future of healthcare in the UAE, such as recent changes in foreign ownership laws. These reforms present a major opportunity for foreign investors, opening up new avenues for international collaborations and improving the overall healthcare infrastructure. The changes in ownership laws are an important milestone, and we provide an analysis of what this means for the industry and the various players involved.
Read NowMohammed Ali - Senior Associate - Intellectual Property
In this decree, it was announced that the use of class headings as the list of goods in trademark applications will no longer be an acceptable practice. As per the Decree, all new trademark applications should include the specific list of goods and/or services, and from the date of the decree onwards, applications with description of goods as general class heading is not acceptable.
Based on the Decree, the Registrar of Trademark, during the examination phase, will refuse an application with the list of goods as class heading because each of the goods and/or services in the list should be specified clearly to remove any ambiguity regarding the identity of the goods/services.
This new practice will be enforced immediately, and it will also affect all pending trademark applications that are due for examination.
It is thus required to amend all trademark applications that are pending examination with the list of goods as class heading to comply with the directions in the above Decree. However, the trademarks that are accepted and published will not be affected by the Decree.
For more information please contact m.ali@tamimi.com
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