UAE’s 2025 Food Safety Regulations: Impact on the F&B Sector

The UAE’s 2025 food safety regulations aim to standardize food safety practices, enhance public health, and promote sustainable growth in the food and beverage sector. These reforms position the UAE as a global leader in food trade, manufacturing, and retail innovation.

By Giulia Interesse

The 30th edition of Gulfood, held at the Dubai World Trade Centre from February 17 to 21, 2025, brought together a record 5,500+ exhibitors from over 129 countries, solidifying its status as the world’s largest food and beverage (F&B) sourcing event.

Beyond showcasing global food innovations, the event highlighted notable advancements in the UAE’s food safety regulations. Spearheaded by the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment (MOCCAE) and the National Food Safety Committee, these regulatory updates aim to standardize food safety practices across all emirates, enhance oversight of both traditional and e-commerce food sectors, and reinforce the country’s commitment to public health.

As the UAE continues to position itself as a global leader in food trade, businesses operating in the sector must adapt to these evolving standards to ensure compliance and maintain market competitiveness.

Overview of the UAE’s 2025 food safety regulations

The UAE’s new food safety regulations, set to take effect in 2025, introduce a more unified and standardized framework for ensuring food quality and consumer safety. The changes reflect the UAE’s commitment to maintaining high food safety standards while fostering a secure and sustainable F&B industry.

Standardizing food Safety across the UAE

Previously, food safety regulations varied across different emirates, creating inconsistencies in control and enforcement. The 2025 laws establish a national food safety system that integrates best practices from existing models like Abu Dhabi’s Risk-Based System (RBS) and Ajman’s Raqeeb smart inspection system. By unifying regulations, the UAE ensures that food businesses across all emirates adhere to the same safety and quality standards, simplifying compliance for companies operating in multiple regions.

Risk-based inspection system

A major reform in the 2025 regulations is the introduction of risk-based inspections, where food businesses will be categorized according to their risk level.

• High-risk businesses (e.g., those handling perishable goods and ready-to-eat meals) will face more frequent and stringent inspections.
• Lower-risk businesses will have fewer inspections, reducing regulatory burdens while maintaining safety standards.

This targeted approach allows authorities to allocate resources efficiently, focusing inspections on areas with the highest potential risks to food safety.

Stricter regulations for imported and locally traded food

The UAE is implementing a National System for Control and Inspection of Imported Food, which establishes stricter checks on food products entering the country. At the same time, a similar system for domestically traded food is being developed to ensure both imported and local products meet the same rigorous safety standards.

By applying uniform regulations across all food products, the UAE aims to prevent unsafe goods from entering the market and ensure consumer protection at every stage of the supply chain.

Expanding food safety rules to e-commerce businesses

As online food sales continue to grow, the 2025 regulations extend safety requirements to e-commerce food businesses, including:

• Online food retailers;
• Cloud kitchens; and
• Food delivery platforms.

The Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority (TDRA) will oversee these businesses to ensure they follow the same food safety and hygiene requirements as physical establishments. Strict penalties will be imposed on non-compliant companies failing to meet compliance standards, reinforcing consumer trust in online food services.

Supporting local farmers and sustainable agriculture

In addition to enforcing stricter food safety controls, the UAE is also promoting sustainable farming and supporting small-scale farmers through new guidelines introduced by the Abu Dhabi Agriculture and Food Safety Authority (ADAFSA). According to the guidelines:

• Smallholders are encouraged to adopt sustainable farming practices.
• New regulations ensure compliance with food safety standards while improving local market access.
• Increased support for local agricultural production aligns with the UAE’s food security and self-sufficiency goals.

This initiative helps strengthen the local food supply chain while ensuring high-quality, safe agricultural products for consumers.

Traceability and documentation for agricultural products

To enhance transparency in the food industry, the new regulations mandate a traceability system for plant-based products, requiring farmers to:

• Keep detailed records of agricultural activities;
• Document production quantities, including discarded items; and
• Ensure proper tracking of food origins.

These measures improve food safety oversight and allow regulators to trace food products from farm to table, reducing the risk of contamination and fraud.

Nutri-mark nutritional labeling system in the UAE

Notably, the UAE is taking a further progressive step in public health and food regulation with the introduction of the Nutri-Mark nutritional labeling system, set to become mandatory in June 2025. This initiative aims to promote healthier dietary choices, enhance food transparency, and ensure consumer awareness of nutritional content.

Understanding the nutri-mark system

The nutri-mark system classifies food products into five grades, from A (healthiest) to E (least healthy), based on their nutritional value. This ranking helps consumers make informed decisions when purchasing food products. Initially, the system applies to the following key food categories:

• Baked goods;
• Dairy products; and
• Beverages.

Products falling under these categories must display a nutri-mark label on packaging. Any non-compliant items will be withdrawn from supermarket shelves, and businesses falsely displaying a higher health grade will face strict penalties.

Impact on food manufacturers, retailers, and consumers

The implementation of nutri-mark will reshape the food industry, particularly for manufacturers, retailers, and consumers:

• Food manufacturers: Companies must reformulate products, adjust packaging, and ensure accurate labeling to comply with the new system.
• Retailers: Supermarkets and stores will need to stock only Nutri-Mark-compliant products, ensuring that all items meet the UAE’s health transparency standards.
• Consumers: Shoppers will benefit from clear nutritional grading, making it easier to select healthier food options and manage dietary choices effectively.

A shift towards healthier choices

Nutri-Mark is part of a broader public health strategy aimed at tackling obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases in the UAE. By providing consumers with easy-to-understand nutritional information, the system encourages healthier eating habits and aligns with the country’s long-term vision for healthier lifestyles and regulatory compliance in the food sector.

As businesses adapt to these new regulations, they must prioritize transparency and compliance to thrive in the evolving UAE food market.

Strategic implications for the UAE’s F&B sector

The UAE’s 2025 food safety regulations mark a major step towards reinforcing public health, fostering innovation, and driving sustainable economic growth in the F&B sector. By standardizing food safety laws, implementing risk-based inspections, strengthening oversight of imported and e-commerce food businesses, and introducing initiatives like the nutri-mark nutritional labeling system, the UAE is aligning its regulatory framework with global best practices. These measures not only protect consumers but also enhance the country’s position as a trusted global hub for food trade, manufacturing, and retail.

The updated food safety laws directly support the UAE’s public health strategy by ensuring safer food consumption, combating obesity, and promoting transparency in nutritional labeling. At the same time, they encourage technological advancements, such as smart inspection systems and digital traceability for agricultural products, which improve supply chain efficiency and food quality control.

Economically, these regulations reinforce the UAE’s commitment to sustainable food production and trade. By promoting local farming initiatives, increasing support for small-scale agricultural businesses, and maintaining stringent import regulations, the country is building a resilient food supply chain. These reforms ensure that the UAE remains at the forefront of food security while providing business-friendly policies that attract global investment in the F&B sector.

Industry adaptation and compliance

For food manufacturers, distributors, and retailers, adapting to these new regulations will be essential for maintaining market competitiveness. Businesses must invest in compliance strategies, including:

• Ensuring product labeling aligns with Nutri-Mark requirements;
• Meeting traceability and documentation standards for agricultural and imported goods;
• Adopting risk-based food safety practices to comply with inspections;
• Enhancing digital infrastructure to support e-commerce food safety regulations.

Retailers and food service providers must also integrate health-conscious and regulatory-compliant products into their offerings, responding to evolving consumer preferences for transparency and quality assurance.

Long-term benefits for the UAE’s F&B sector

The UAE’s proactive regulatory approach strengthens its reputation as a leading global food trade hub. By enforcing uniform food safety standards across all emirates, businesses can streamline operations, reduce compliance complexity, and foster greater international trade opportunities.

Furthermore, the introduction of risk-based food inspections and sustainability-focused agricultural policies paves the way for a more efficient, innovative, and environmentally responsible food industry. These initiatives support the UAE’s vision for economic diversification, encouraging investment in food technology, sustainable farming, and digital retail solutions.

Way forward

The UAE’s 2025 food safety regulations set a new benchmark for quality control, health-conscious consumer choices, and global trade alignment. While businesses must adapt to heightened compliance standards, the long-term impact will be a stronger, more resilient F&B sector that drives public health improvements, economic prosperity, and food security.

By embracing these changes, companies can position themselves at the forefront of the UAE’s next phase of growth as a world-class destination for food trade, manufacturing, and retail innovation.

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