UAE Caps Salt, Sugar and Fat in Packaged Food, with Fines up to AED 500,000
New UAE limits on sodium, sugar and fat in bread, snacks, yoghurt and cheese are being phased in to 2030. Businesses face fines up to AED 500,000; shoppers do not.
By Vadim Kouznetsov, published
The UAE has started applying limits on sodium, sugar and fat in selected packaged foods, from bread and flavoured yoghurt to chips and processed cheese, the Ministry of Health and Prevention (MOHAP) said in October 2026. Food businesses that break the rules face fines from AED 5,000 up to AED 500,000, with phased deadlines running to December 31, 2030.
For shoppers, the change will mostly happen inside the packet: recipes may be quietly reformulated, so familiar foods could taste a little different over the next few years.
What the UAE salt and sugar limits cover
The resolution applies to packaged foods made in the UAE or imported, and to every business that handles them, including free zone companies. It covers the whole chain: production, processing, packaging, import, storage, distribution, serving, display and sale.
Products made or imported only for export are excluded, unless they are also sold in the UAE. MOHAP said the aim is to cut obesity and other noncommunicable diseases linked to unhealthy diets, by changing food at the supply stage rather than relying only on consumers.
The new limits per 100g
Limits come in two phases and are measured per 100 grams of product. Some examples, as reported by Gulf News:
| Product | First phase | Final phase |
|---|---|---|
| Leavened bread, sodium | 444mg | 370mg |
| Flat bread, sodium | 384mg | 320mg |
| Sweetened milk drinks, sugar | 9.6g | 8g |
| Flavoured yoghurt and laban, sugar | 12g | 10g |
| Salted crackers, sodium | 696mg | 580mg |
| Salted nuts and seeds, sodium | 336mg | 280mg |
| Pretzels, sodium | 912mg | 760mg |
| Chips and extruded snacks, sodium | 564mg | 470mg |
| Spreadable cheese, sodium | 864mg | 720mg |
| Other processed cheese, sodium | 1,200mg | 1,000mg |
Both breads also move from 6g to 5g of total sugars and from 8.4g to 7g of total fat. Sweetened milk drinks include milk alternatives.
Deadlines and what happens to existing stock
The deadlines run from the date the resolution takes effect:
- Group one (including bread): first-phase limits within nine months.
- Group two (processed cheese): up to two years and three months.
- Final limits for all products: by December 31, 2030 at the latest.
Stock made or imported before the start date can stay on shelves for up to one year or until it expires, whichever comes first. After that, products over the limits cannot be traded.
Existing products can apply for an exception to the first phase if meeting it would mean cutting an ingredient by more than 20 per cent. Applications are due within 30 days of the resolution taking effect, with technical data, nutrition label details and accredited laboratory results, and the business must still commit to a cut of at least 20 per cent within the first phase. An exception never moves the 2030 deadline.
Fines for food businesses, not shoppers
Federal and local health authorities will monitor compliance with MOHAP. Penalties apply to businesses, not consumers, and include:
- a warning
- a fine from AED 5,000 to AED 500,000
- closure for up to six months, which can be renewed
- cancellation of a licence or approval
The penalty depends on how serious the breach is, the circumstances and whether it is repeated. The Cabinet will issue the full list of violations and penalties. If you work in food production or quality control, you can browse food industry jobs.
Sugary drinks were targeted earlier through tax: see UAE Sugar Tax 2026: New Excise Rules Based on Sugar Content and UAE Sugar Tax 2026: How Price Hikes Are Pushing Consumers Toward Healthier Drinks.
Key takeaway
The UAE is phasing in caps on salt, sugar and fat in everyday packaged foods, with final limits due by December 31, 2030. Businesses that break them risk fines of up to AED 500,000; shoppers simply may notice recipes changing.
FAQ
Which foods are covered by the UAE salt and sugar limits?
Selected packaged foods including leavened and flat bread, sweetened milk drinks, flavoured yoghurt and laban, salted crackers, nuts and seeds, pretzels, chips and processed cheese, whether local or imported.
Will consumers be fined under the new food rules?
No. The fines apply to food businesses and establishments that break the rules, not to shoppers.
When do the new limits apply?
Bread and other first-group products have nine months from the start date to meet first-phase limits, and processed cheese two years and three months. Final limits apply by December 31, 2030.
What is the maximum fine for breaking the rules?
AED 500,000. Businesses can also receive a warning, face closure for up to six months, or lose their licence.
Further reading
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