Saba Al-Sultani

Partner

Head of Intellectual Property and Technology, Middle East

Emailsaba.alsultani@akd.partners

Dubai

About

Saba is Head of the Intellectual Property and Technology practice for the Middle East.

She specialises in trade mark and design matters across in the Middle East and North Africa region, managing worldwide IP portfolios and handling disputes for both regional and international clients (including many of the biggest and most well-known brands in the world).

Her clients span numerous sectors including consumer goods and retail, life sciences, aviation, energy and natural resources, education and hospitality.

Areas of FocusIntellectual Property Trademark and Copyright Litigation Trademark and Copyright Counseling, Strategy, Enforcement and Prosecution

PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONSChartered Trade Mark Attorney registered with The Chartered Institute of Trade Mark Attorneys (UK)

EXPERIENCE

Managing all prosecution aspects of the region-wide trade mark portfolio of a world famous global consumer electronics brand, as well as advising on trade mark infringement matters, including on civil proceedings, criminal actions and administrative complaints before the relevant local authorities.
Providing trade mark, copyright and design prosecution, infringement and enforcement advice, as well as handling regional prosecution work and enforcement actions for a global luxury goods brand.
Management and handling of local and regional trade mark disputes for one of the largest and most famous social media platforms globally.
Management and handling of local and regional trade mark disputes for one of the largest and most famous content platform and production companies globally.
Managing all prosecution and enforcement aspects of the region-wide (Middle East, Turkey and Africa) trade mark and design portfolio of a global manufacturer of food, confectionery and pet food.
Advising on local and regional trade mark, design and copyright disputes (including providing infringement and enforcement advice as well as acting for the client in trade mark opposition and cancellation actions) and licensing matters for a global luxury goods brand.
Advising a well-known US chain of over 200 restaurants on entry to the MENA region in view of a multi-jurisdictional dispute due to earlier conflicting third party trade marks and successfully negotiating and drafting a worldwide co-existence agreement.
Advising a well-known US food retailer in relation to a GGC-wide conflict involving numerous cross oppositions and cancellations and successfully negotiating settlement.
Advising a global energy company in relation to a domain name dispute in Saudi Arabia and successfully negotiating the assignment of the domain name to the client.
Managing all aspects of the re-branding and worldwide trade mark filing programme for a UAE-based international market and free zone, including pre-filing clearance searching and advice.

Languages

Awards

Proud to lead the UAE IP Law Firm of the Year, as recognised at the Chambers Legal Awards 2025
Top 250 Women in IP, 2025 - IP Stars, Managing Intellectual Property
Trade Mark Star 2025 – IP Stars, Managing Intellectual Property
WTR Global Leader, 2025 - World Trade Mark Review
Ranked Gold - World Trade Mark Review, WTR 1000, 2025
"Saba is a sagacious operator who is always able to navigate a way through the shifting sands of the Middle East for her trademark clients. She is responsive and shows an unparalleled depth of regional expertise, particularly in cross-border contentious matters involving the UAE and Saudi Arabia; she brings a level of sophistication on pan-Middle East matters that is not easily found elsewhere" – World Trade Mark Review, WTR 1000, 2025
Ranked Band 2 for Intellectual Property: Chambers Global 2025
"Saba is responsive and practical, and understands how our business works and operates. She is a star." – Chambers Global Guide, 2025
"We are happy with the work Saba carries out. She is very personable, gets the work done and has a lot of contacts. She is very quick in terms of turnaround, and very good on responsiveness." – Chambers Global Guide, 2025