Trademarks in Oman

Competent Authority

Trademark registration in the Sultanate of Oman is administered by the Directorate General of Intellectual Property under the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion (MoCIIP), located in Muscat. The official working language is Arabic, and the system is national.

International Agreements

Oman is a member of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), the World Trade Organization (WTO), and the Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property. Oman is also a contracting party to the Madrid Protocol concerning the International Registration of Marks, allowing international applications to designate Oman.

Who May Apply

Natural persons and legal entities engaging in commercial, industrial, professional, or service activities may apply. Foreign applicants without a residence or principal place of business in Oman are legally required to act through a registered local trademark agent or representative. A Power of Attorney (POA) signed by the applicant is mandatory, and it must be fully notarized and legalized up to the Omani Consulate (or handled via regional consular attestation rules).

Online Filing and Search

Electronic filings, status tracking, and initial submissions are processed through the digital e-services portal managed by the MoCIIP. Preliminary availability searches of the national register can be conducted to evaluate conflicting prior rights.

Registrable Sign Types

Trademarks may comprise words, names, signatures, letters, figures, drawings, symbols, 3D shapes, color combinations, and sound marks capable of distinguishing goods or services. Non-Arabic word marks or characters must be accompanied by an accurate Arabic translation and transliteration.

Classification

Oman follows the international Nice Classification system for the registration of goods and services. Multi-class applications are not permitted; a separate application must be filed for each individual class.

Examination

The MoCIIP conducts a formal administrative examination for completeness and classification, followed by a substantive examination covering absolute grounds for refusal (such as distinctiveness or public morality) and relative grounds (conflicts with prior registered or pending marks on the national register). Applicants generally have 60 days to respond in writing to any provisional refusal or examiner objection.

Publication and Opposition

Once an application is approved following examination, it is published in the Official Gazette (alongside mandatory local newspaper publications). Any interested third party may file a formal notice of opposition against the registration of the trademark within a strict statutory window of 60 days from the date of publication.

Timelines

An unopposed standard trademark application typically takes between 8 to 12 months from initial filing to final registration certificate issuance.

Official Fees

Official state fees are denominated in Omani Rials (OMR) and are structured across sequential filing, publication, and registration milestones:

• Application filing fee: OMR 50 per class
• Official Gazette publication fee: OMR 100 per class
• Local newspaper publication fee: ~OMR 40
• Final registration and certificate issuance fee (payable after the 60-day opposition window): OMR 50 per class

Protection Duration and Renewal

Trademark protection is valid for 10 years starting from the official application filing date. Registrations can be renewed indefinitely for successive 10-year periods upon submitting a renewal request and paying the requisite fees within the final year of protection, backed by a statutory grace period.

Use Requirements

A registered trademark is vulnerable to cancellation or revocation actions if it has not been put to genuine commercial use in Oman for a continuous statutory period (typically 5 years following registration). Oman operates primarily on a first-to-file priority framework.

Post-Registration Procedures

Post-registration modifications—including assignments, licensing agreements, changes of registrant name, or changes of address—must be formally recorded with the MoCIIP and published in the Official Gazette to ensure full legal validity and enforceability against third parties. Recordals require fully legalized documentation.

Legal Remedies

Legal remedies include administrative cancellation actions, civil infringement lawsuits before competent courts seeking permanent injunctions and financial damages, and border enforcement measures implemented by Omani customs authorities to intercept counterfeit imports.

Country-Specific Risks and Practical Notes

Because Oman enforces a strict single-class application structure, mandates consular legalization chains for powers of attorney, and requires dual publication steps (Official Gazette plus local newspapers), foreign applicants must carefully coordinate compliance logistics and budget for class-specific disbursements.

This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice or consultation. To receive personalized and in-depth guidance tailored to your specific situation, we invite you to schedule a consultation.