Trademark registration in Kuwait

Costs, market data and law firms for Kuwait

Kuwait

Kuwait: registering a trademark costs an estimated US$1,605 for one class, plus US$1,605 for each further class. Kuwait is not a member of the Madrid System, so a trademark must be filed directly with its office. Kuwait is a leading import market for meat, dairy and preserved foods (class 29) and beer and soft drinks (class 32). It is also one of the world's leading exporters of hydrocarbon derivatives.

Population4.9m
Economy (GDP)US$157bn
Trademark classes filed by foreign applicants (2024)7,681

Figures by trademark class count branded goods only: raw commodities that are traded mostly without brands - such as gold bars, fuel, bulk chemicals, grain and fabric by the metre - are left out. Hong Kong, Singapore and the United Arab Emirates are left out of the rankings, as much of their trade is re-exported.

Where Kuwait is a leading market

  • #2 in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan and Pakistan and #38 in the world for class 29 (Meat, dairy and preserved foods) - US$968m of imports
  • #2 in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan and Pakistan and #45 in the world for class 32 (Beer and soft drinks) - US$153m of imports
  • #3 in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan and Pakistan and #23 in the world for class 14 (Jewellery and watches) - US$1.6bn of imports
  • #3 in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan and Pakistan and #42 in the world for class 1 (Chemicals) - US$523m of imports
  • #4 in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan and Pakistan and #47 in the world for class 3 (Cosmetics and cleaning) - US$1.0bn of imports
  • #4 in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan and Pakistan and #48 in the world for class 12 (Vehicles) - US$5.6bn of imports

A leading exporter

  • #1 in the world for hydrocarbon derivatives - US$802m of exports (37% of the world's)
  • Refined petroleum products: 36% of Kuwait's exports - US$24.3bn (#10 in the world)
  • Crude oil: 43% of Kuwait's exports - US$28.8bn (#13 in the world)

Fastest-growing markets

  • Class 1 (Chemicals): imports up 26% a year
  • Class 5 (Pharmaceuticals): imports up 21% a year
  • Class 29 (Meat, dairy and preserved foods): imports up 7% a year
Kuwait: the biggest import markets by trademark class (2024, US$m)
Kuwait's share of Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan and Pakistan's imports, by trademark class (%)
Kuwait: import growth by trademark class (2022-2024, % a year)
Kuwait: its leading and key exports (2024, US$m)

Goods where Kuwait is among the world's 3 largest exporters, has at least 15% of world exports, or that make up at least 25% of its own exports - of at least US$500m a year.

Questions about trademarks in Kuwait

How much does it cost to register a trademark in Kuwait?

Our estimate is about US$1,605 for one class, from filing to registration: about US$1,027 in official fees and about US$578 in professional (law firm) fees. Each further class costs about as much again (US$1,605). Responses to office actions and oppositions are not included. These are estimates only: the actual cost depends on the law firm and the application. Request a quote from a law firm on this site for an exact price.

Can I use the Madrid System for Kuwait?

Kuwait is not a member of the Madrid System, so a trademark must be filed directly with its office.

For which goods is Kuwait an important market?

Kuwait's 10 largest import markets by trademark class are vehicles (class 12, US$5.6bn), electronics and software (class 9, US$3.7bn), machines (class 7, US$2.6bn), pharmaceuticals (class 5, US$2.1bn), clothing, footwear and headwear (class 25, US$1.7bn), jewellery and watches (class 14, US$1.6bn), cosmetics and cleaning (class 3, US$1.0bn), meat, dairy and preserved foods (class 29, US$968m), coffee, tea, bakery and confectionery (class 30, US$788m) and furniture (class 20, US$574m). Within its region, it stands out for meat, dairy and preserved foods (#2 in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan and Pakistan), beer and soft drinks (#2 in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan and Pakistan), jewellery and watches (#3 in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan and Pakistan), chemicals (#3 in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan and Pakistan), cosmetics and cleaning (#4 in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan and Pakistan) and vehicles (#4 in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan and Pakistan). Imports are growing fastest for chemicals (26% a year), pharmaceuticals (21% a year) and meat, dairy and preserved foods (7% a year). Foreign applicants filed 7,681 trademark classes in Kuwait in 2024 - #11 in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan and Pakistan - a sign of how many brand owners already protect their marks there.

What does Kuwait export, and why does that matter for my trademark?

Kuwait's exports of goods came to US$66.7bn in 2024. Its 10 largest exports were crude oil (US$28.8bn, 43% of its exports, #13 in the world), refined petroleum products (US$24.3bn, 36% of its exports, #10 in the world), natural gas and LPG (US$3.7bn, 6% of its exports, #20 in the world), cyclic hydrocarbons (US$1.3bn, 2% of its exports, #11 in the world), cars (US$1.1bn, 2% of its exports, #33 in the world), polyethylene (US$954m, 1% of its exports, #19 in the world), hydrocarbon derivatives (US$802m, 1% of its exports, #1 in the world), industrial alcohols (US$779m, 1% of its exports, #16 in the world), aircraft, helicopters and spacecraft (US$610m, 1% of its exports, #18 in the world) and petroleum coke and bitumen (US$306m, 0% of its exports, #19 in the world). By trademark class, its 10 largest exports were vehicles (class 12, US$1.6bn, #40 in the world), electronics and software (class 9, US$340m, #75 in the world), machines (class 7, US$264m, #66 in the world), cosmetics and cleaning (class 3, US$160m, #64 in the world), meat, dairy and preserved foods (class 29, US$151m, #78 in the world), jewellery and watches (class 14, US$116m, #49 in the world), clothing, footwear and headwear (class 25, US$115m, #87 in the world), coffee, tea, bakery and confectionery (class 30, US$84m, #81 in the world), chemicals (class 1, US$68m, #52 in the world) and pharmaceuticals (class 5, US$51m, #82 in the world). Where goods are made and exported, copies are often made too: a registered trademark there lets you act against counterfeits at the source, including with the help of customs.

Law firms for Kuwait

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Trade: imports and exports of each trademark class's branded goods. Rankings compare countries' trade in those goods, without the re-export hubs. Costs are estimates.