AACC welcomes you. We prefer to discuss any question about your document by phone rather than email, Please call us at (202) 347-5800.
Assignment Legalization for Arab Countries
When a company is sold or merges, or restructures its brands, the rights it holds in Arab countries have to be transferred too. Trademark and patent offices, courts and ministries there will record the new owner only once the U.S. assignment is legalized. The Arab American Chamber of Commerce prepares the assignment and completes the apostille or embassy route for each destination.
Two ways to start. A signed assignment (a deed signed by the assignor) is notarized and goes to the Secretary of State. A USPTO certified copy of a recorded assignment is a federal document, so it skips the notary and the state and goes straight to the U.S. Department of State. Saudi Arabia, Morocco, Bahrain and Algeria then accept an apostille. The other Arab countries require embassy legalization.
What an Assignment Is
An assignment transfers ownership of a right from one party (the assignor) to another (the assignee). In Arab countries it is most often used to record a new owner of a trademark or patent, or to transfer a contract to a new company after a merger. Legalization confirms the signatures and seals on the assignment, not the transfer itself. The local registry records the transfer.
Trademark assignment
Transfers registered trademarks to a new owner so the Arab trademark office can record the change.
Most commonPatent assignment
Transfers patents or applications to the new owner.
IPContract assignment
Transfers a contract, such as an agency or supply agreement, to a successor company.
CorporateAssignment of receivables
Transfers the right to collect payments, often for financing.
FinanceChoose the Destination Country
Choose the country where the assignment will be recorded to start your order.
Country
U.S. steps
Final step
U.S. stepsNotarized → Secretary of State → U.S. Department of State
Final stepEgyptian Embassy or consulate
U.S. stepsNotarized → Secretary of State → U.S. Department of State
Final stepEmbassy of Jordan
U.S. stepsNotarized → Secretary of State → U.S. Department of State
Final stepEmbassy of Kuwait
U.S. stepsNotarized → Secretary of State → U.S. Department of State
Final stepEmbassy of Lebanon
U.S. stepsNotarized → Secretary of State → U.S. Department of State
Final stepEmbassy of Oman (business documents since 2021)
U.S. stepsNotarized → Secretary of State → U.S. Department of State
Final stepPalestinian legalization arranged by our team
U.S. stepsNotarized → Secretary of State apostille
Final stepApostille (since December 2022)
U.S. stepsNotarized → Secretary of State → U.S. Department of State
Final stepEmbassy of Tunisia
U.S. stepsNotarized → Secretary of State
Final stepUAE Embassy (through VFS Global), then MOFA in the UAE
The table shows the route for a signed, notarized assignment. A USPTO certified copy starts at the U.S. Department of State instead. Embassies charge commercial-document rates for assignments. We confirm the current fee with your order.
How an Assignment Is Legalized
- Choose the version the registry wantsArab trademark offices usually accept a signed deed of assignment. Some also accept the USPTO certified copy of the recorded assignment. Ask your local agent which one the office needs.
- Notarize, or order the USPTO certified copyThe assignor’s authorized officer signs the deed in person before a notary. For a federal copy, order a certified copy of the recorded assignment from the USPTO.
- Secretary of State, or U.S. Department of StateA notarized deed goes to the Secretary of State of the notary’s state. A USPTO certified copy goes straight to the U.S. Department of State. For Saudi Arabia, Morocco, Bahrain and Algeria, the apostille issued at this step completes the process.
- Embassy legalizationFor embassy countries, the U.S. Department of State certifies the seal, and then the embassy in Washington, D.C. legalizes the assignment. For the UAE, it goes through VFS Global and then MOFA.
- Returned to youSent back with tracking, ready for translation and recording by your local trademark or patent agent.
Common mistakes: sending an e-signed deed, leaving out the list of registration numbers, using a company name that doesn’t match the registry record, or sending a USPTO certified copy to the Secretary of State. A federal document goes straight to the U.S. Department of State.
Required Documents
What to send us
- The original assignment: signed and notarized in person, or the USPTO certified copy exactly as issued.
- A schedule of rights listing each registration or application number in the destination country.
- Your online order for the destination country, paid online or through Pay Invoice.
- A prepaid return label: a FedEx or UPS air waybill, or a USPS Priority Mail envelope with tracking. You can also buy a label at checkout.
What registries check
- Assignor and assignee names exactly as they appear on the local registration
- Registration or application numbers, and the classes covered
- Date and effect of the transfer
- The signer’s name and title, often supported by a board resolution
Documents That Go With the Assignment
Trademark Assignment
Our dedicated page for transferring registered trademarks in Arab countries.
TrademarksCertificate of Merger
Proves why ownership changed after a merger. It is a state record.
Certified copyProcessing Time and Fees
Apostille countries
| Saudi Arabia, Morocco, Bahrain, Algeria | Apostille, no embassy |
| Notarized deed | Secretary of State |
| USPTO certified copy | U.S. Department of State |
Embassy countries
| State and U.S. Department of State | Required |
| Embassy fee | By country |
| Example: Yemen | $120, or $170 rush |
Times are counted from the day we receive your assignment. Our service fee and return shipping are shown at checkout. Call us for the current timeline for your country.
Why Choose the Arab American Chamber of Commerce?
Right starting pointNotarized deed or USPTO copy: we send each one to the office that can certify it.
Checked against the registryWe compare the names and numbers in the schedule with what the registry expects before you sign.
All 18 Arab countriesApostille or embassy, handled in one order.
Where to Send Your Assignment
Maryland office (fastest)
Arab Chamber of Commerce
1615 Bay Head Rd., Annapolis, MD 21409
(410) 349-1212
Washington, D.C. headquarters
1330 New Hampshire Ave. NW, B1, Washington, DC
(202) 347-5800
Monday to Friday, 8:00 am to 6:00 pm ET
Assignment Legalization: Common Questions
Should I legalize the signed deed or the USPTO certified copy?
It depends on the destination office. Most Arab trademark offices accept a signed, notarized deed of assignment, and some accept the USPTO certified copy. Your local agent will know which one the office wants.
Who issues the apostille for a trademark assignment?
For a notarized deed, the Secretary of State of the notary’s state. For a USPTO certified copy, the U.S. Department of State, because it is a federal document.
Which Arab countries accept an apostilled assignment?
Saudi Arabia, Morocco, Bahrain and Algeria (since July 9, 2026). Oman requires embassy legalization for business documents since 2021, and the other Arab countries require the full embassy chain.
Can one assignment cover several Arab countries?
Usually not. Each country’s embassy legalizes its own original, and each schedule should list that country’s registration numbers. Sign one original per country.
Does the assignment need an Arabic translation?
Usually yes. Arab registries generally require a certified Arabic translation, prepared locally after legalization.
Transferring rights in an Arab country?
Tell us the country and the registrations involved. We’ll confirm whether to use the signed deed or the USPTO copy before you start.
Case 1 Examples
Business documents
Federally Issued documents
Case 2 Examples
Commercial Document:
Case 3 Examples
Personal Document:
Mailing
If you are using FedEx or UPS, please include a self-addressed air waybill for the return of your document.
Alternatively, you may use a USPS Priority Mail envelope with prepaid postage and a tracking number.
If you do not have a FedEx or UPS account, you can purchase an air waybill through this site in the next step.
Arab American Chamber of Commerce Headquarter Office
1330 New Hampshire Ave. NW, B1Washington, D.C. 20036
(202) 347-5800
1 888-939-ARAB
Arab Chamber of Commerce
1615 Bay Head Rd.Annapolis MD, 21409
(410) 349 - 1212
