For years, Indian spirits, wine and beer companies expanding into the UAE hit the same wall: Class 33, the Nice Classification category covering alcoholic beverages, was simply closed for trademark registration. That has now changed. The UAE Trademark Office have started accepting Class 33 trademark applications with immediate effect, opening a direct route to brand protection for Indian companies selling or planning to sell alcoholic beverages in the UAE.
For Indian whisky, rum, wine and craft spirits brands that already have a strong domestic reputation and are eyeing the UAE’s hospitality, duty-free and retail markets, this is a meaningful opening. Here is what has changed, why it matters for Indian businesses specifically, and what to do next.
Why This Matters for Indian Alcohol Brands
India has a large and growing base of spirits and wine producers with export ambitions, and the UAE is a natural market given its trade links with India, its large Indian expatriate population, and its position as a regional hub for hospitality and re-export. Until now, Indian brand owners looking to protect their names in the UAE for wines, spirits or liqueurs could only rely on Class 32, which was never designed for these products under the Nice Classification.
This mattered commercially. A brand that is registered and defensible in India could still face copycats, look-alike labels or unauthorised use in the UAE, with no direct Class 33 registration to rely on. Distributors, hotel groups and duty-free retailers in the UAE also look for clean trademark protection before agreeing to stock or promote a brand. That gap has now closed.
Why Class 33 Was Restricted Until Now
Under the Nice Classification, Class 33 covers alcoholic beverages except beer, while beer falls under Class 32. For years, the UAE Trade Mark Office did not accept Class 33 applications at all, in line with domestic policy. This was a matter of Trade Mark Office practice rather than a restriction written into the underlying Federal Trademarks Law No. 36 of 2021, which governs trademark registration across all seven emirates, so the change did not require new legislation.
What Has Changed
The Trademark Office is now accepting trademark applications under Class 33 for alcoholic beverages. There is no special procedure: applications go through the same examination, publication and registration stages as any other class, whether filed by a UAE-based applicant or an Indian company filing directly or through a local agent.
There is also a related update for Class 32. Beer, which sits in Class 32 under the Nice system, can now also be registered with alcoholic beverage wording intact, where previously such wording was often removed or amended.
What This Means for Indian Brand Owners
- If your brand already holds a UAE Class 32 registration filed out of necessity, that registration remains valid and continues to carry value as an earlier right.
- Flagship product names, master brands and export-facing labels should now be filed directly in Class 33 for the strongest and most accurate protection.
- Brands only now entering the UAE market, whether through direct export, a distributor, or duty-free listings, should file Class 33 protection before launch rather than after.
- An existing Indian trademark registration does not automatically extend protection to the UAE. A separate UAE filing, whether direct or via the Madrid System, is still required.
Trademark Registration Is Not an Import or Sales Licence
This distinction is particularly important for Indian exporters. Registering a trademark in Class 33 protects the brand name, logo or packaging design. It does not, on its own, authorise the import, distribution, advertising or sale of alcoholic beverages in the UAE or any specific emirate. Those activities remain governed by separate licensing and regulatory requirements, which sit apart from trademark law entirely. Indian companies planning to enter the UAE market should treat trademark filing and import or distribution licensing as two separate workstreams, both necessary, but neither a substitute for the other.
What Indian Alcohol Brands Should Do Now
- Review your current UAE trademark position, including any Class 32 filings made before Class 33 was available.
- Prioritise Class 33 filings for your core brand name, master brand and any product line earmarked for UAE or wider GCC distribution.
- If you already hold an international registration through the Madrid System, check whether it can be extended to cover the UAE under Class 33.
- Coordinate trademark filing timelines with your UAE distribution, hospitality or duty-free agreements, so protection is in place before the brand appears on shelves or menus.
- Take UAE import and sale licensing advice separately from trademark registration, since the two follow different rules and different authorities.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Can an Indian alcohol brand register a trademark in the UAE?
Yes. The UAE Trademark Office is now accepting Class 33 applications for alcoholic beverages with immediate effect, and Indian applicants can file directly or through a UAE-based agent.
2. Do I need to refile my existing UAE Class 32 trademark?
Not necessarily. Existing Class 32 registrations remain valid. Filing in Class 33 is recommended for your most important export brands rather than treated as compulsory for an entire portfolio.
3. Does a UAE trademark allow me to import or sell alcohol there?
No. Trademark registration protects your brand identity only. Importing, distributing or selling alcoholic beverages in the UAE requires separate licensing under the applicable emirate’s regulations.
Protect Your Brand Before You Enter the UAE Market
For Indian spirits, wine and beer companies with UAE or wider GCC ambitions, the opening of Class 33 removes a long-standing obstacle to proper brand protection. Filing early, before a distributor agreement, duty-free listing or hospitality partnership goes live, puts you in a far stronger position than trying to enforce rights after a copycat has already appeared on the market.
Jitendra IP and Legal Services can review your existing Indian and international trademark portfolio, advise on UAE Class 33 filing priorities, and handle the registration process on your behalf. Get in touch with our trademark specialists today to protect your brand ahead of your UAE market entry.
