We have been very touched by the concern shown by our clients and friends about the ongoing situation in the Middle East. As we come towards the end of the second week of the conflict, we wanted to reassure you that our colleagues in the UAE are all safe and well. In terms of our work for our clients, it is business as usual. The team in the Dubai have moved to home working and this will continue until further notice.
With regards IP offices in the GCC region, some technical disruptions may be expected. However, at the moment, most IP services remain unaffected as the majority of IP services are processed online.
The UAE Ministry of Economy and Trade (MOET) and the Head of the IP Sector have already confirmed that they will be lenient when it comes to deadlines and is willing to extend deadlines as needed. As per usual practice, a 90-day period is allowed for late filing of powers; if this expires, the application will lapse with no right of appeal, and a new filing would be required to continue.
We will provide further updates on LinkedIn and here should the situation change significantly.