Move to limit sugar, salt and fat in food is latest step in UAE drive to boost nation's health
The UAE approved phased caps on sodium, sugar and fat in packaged foods, with final limits by 2030 and penalties for non-compliance.Summary
The UAE has approved new rules capping sodium, sugar and fat levels in packaged foods sold in the Emirates, whether locally made or imported. The limits will be phased in, with final caps effective by December 31, 2030, and apply to manufacturers and businesses, including those in free zones. Non-compliant companies face fines up to Dh500,000 ($136,147), closure for up to six months and licence cancellation. The measure follows earlier public health policies, including 2017 excise taxes on tobacco and sugary drinks, a 2019 expansion to e-cigarettes, and a 2026 sugar tax for drinks based on sugar content. Abu Dhabi's Healthy Living Strategy, announced in November 2025, includes restricting prominent placement of unhealthy foods in large supermarkets and online platforms from next January, monitoring school lunches with a food Red List, curbing fast-food advertising, requiring healthy menu items in hotels and tourist-area restaurants from October 1, and setting SEHHI criteria for children's menus. Some manufacturers, such as Al Ain Farms Group, are already reformulating products to reduce added sugar. The UAE also continues anti-smoking measures, including a minimum excise price for vaping liquids introduced in September.
(Source：The National)
