How to Import Food Products into UAE: Registration, Labelling and Customs

Importing food into the UAE can be a strong business opportunity, but food does not clear the border in the same way as ordinary trading goods. Before you ship, you need the right commercial activity, an approved product record, a compliant label and the documents required for food safety and customs clearance.

The rules also change by product. A carton of packaged biscuits follows a simpler route than frozen poultry, infant formula or a sweetened beverage. Your port and emirate matter too because local food-control authorities handle consignment release alongside the UAE's federal systems.

If you plan to import food products into the UAE, this guide explains the process in practical terms.

How Food Importing Works in the UAE

Food imports sit under several layers of control. The UAE's national food-safety framework requires imported or locally produced food to be registered before it is handled in the market. The ZAD federal food-trade portal is used for company and food-item registration, while local authorities such as Dubai Municipality control food-product assessment and incoming consignment release in their emirate.

That means your first shipment should not be the first time authorities see the product. Sort out the company activity, product registration and label assessment before the cargo leaves the exporting country.

1. Set Up the Right UAE Trading Activity

   You need a UAE business licence that covers the goods you plan to import and sell. The activity may be foodstuff trading, a specific category such as coffee or spices trading or another approved commercial activity.

   If you are still setting up the company, review Nexture's commercial licence UAE guide and import-export licence UAE guide before selecting the activity. A broad trading description in your business plan does not replace the exact activity shown on the licence.

   You will also need customs registration with the customs authority handling your entry point. UAE import guidance states that commercial importers need the correct trade licence and standard customs documentation. 

   A free-zone company can work well if your model focuses on storage and re-export. Under the GCC customs framework, goods imported into a free zone become subject to customs duty when they leave the zone for the customs territory. 

   Step 2: Register the Food Product Before Sale

   The UAE Government states that imported food, locally produced food and products whose label, ingredients or composition have changed must be registered through the national food registration system before they are handled in UAE markets.

   For Dubai, Dubai Municipality's food services include a dedicated process to register and assess a food item. The authority also provides a separate service for releasing imported food consignments for sale in the local market.

   In practical terms, prepare the product specification, label artwork, ingredient details, manufacturer information, country of origin, shelf-life information and any supporting certificates before submitting the registration.

   Do not assume one approval covers every future version of the product. If the formulation, label or other registered details change, check whether the item needs an update or reassessment before the next shipment.

2. Get the Food Label Right Before Shipping

   Labelling is one of the areas most likely to create clearance problems. The GCC framework includes GSO 9:2022 for prepackaged food labelling, with a technical amendment approved in April 2025.

   For the UAE market, labels generally need to be in Arabic or Arabic and English. Arabic stickers can be accepted in permitted cases, but they should be part of the label-assessment process and applied before export. Current UAE trade guidance also states that production and expiry dates should appear on the original manufactured label rather than being added when the shipment arrives.

   A typical prepackaged food label should cover the following information:

   Label item	What to check
   Product identity	Product name and brand should match the registered item
   Ingredients	List ingredients and permitted additives accurately
   Allergens	Declare applicable food allergens clearly
   Origin	State the country of origin
   Manufacturer	Show the manufacturer name and address as required
   Quantity	Use the correct net weight or volume in metric units
   Dates	Show production and expiry information in the required format
   Lot details	Include batch or lot identification where required
   Storage	Add temperature or storage instructions when relevant
   Usage	Include preparation or use instructions when needed
   Nutrition	Provide nutrition information where the applicable standard requires it

   GSO also published a 2025 technical regulation specifically covering the declaration of food allergens on prepackaged labels. Claims such as organic, halal or GMO-free may require additional evidence, so avoid printing claims that you cannot support with the required documents.

3. Check Whether Your Product Needs Extra Approval

   Packaged dry foods are generally simpler than products carrying animal-origin, health or tax controls.

   Meat and poultry imports require an original halal slaughter certificate in addition to the usual health documentation. The Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology manages the UAE halal framework and registers recognised halal certification bodies. If your label carries a halal claim, make sure the supporting certification comes from an accepted body for the relevant product scope.

   Certain animal products can also require Ministry of Climate Change and Environment import permission or veterinary release procedures. The ministry's current animal-products service provides for an import permit, document review and physical inspection at the entry point.

   Beverages need another tax check. From 1 January 2026, sweetened drinks moved to a tiered volumetric excise model based on sugar and sweetener content. Energy drinks continue to have separate excise treatment. Importers of excise goods should review FTA registration and product-registration requirements before importing.

4. Prepare the Import Document Pack

   Your paperwork needs to match the shipment. Differences in product names, weights, HS codes, batch details or origin can create avoidable clearance questions.

   For a normal commercial food consignment, expect a commercial invoice, certificate of origin, packing list with HS codes, bill of lading or airway bill and the customs declaration. Food products also require an original health certificate issued by the competent authority in the exporting country. Meat and poultry need the halal slaughter certificate as well. Restricted products may require an additional import permit.

   The health certificate should clearly identify the shipment and confirm that the products are fit for human consumption. Ask the exporter to prepare it against UAE requirements rather than reusing a generic document intended for another country.

5. Clear Customs and Obtain Food-Authority Release

   When the shipment reaches the UAE, customs clearance and food-safety release work together.

   Dubai's current public-health framework allows imported food to be controlled using risk-based procedures. Authorities may review documents, inspect the cargo, assess labels or take samples for laboratory testing depending on the product and risk profile.

   For customs, the GCC common tariff is generally 5% on foreign goods imported from outside the customs union, subject to exemptions and the applicable tariff classification. Dubai Customs also states that its normal 5% duty is calculated on CIF value, meaning cost, insurance and freight.

   VAT is separate. UAE VAT generally applies at 5% unless a specific zero-rating or exemption applies. If the importer is VAT-registered, import VAT can be accounted for through the tax mechanism. A non-registered recipient may need to pay VAT before the goods are released. Mandatory VAT registration for a UAE-resident business applies when taxable supplies and imports exceed AED 375,000.

What Can Delay a Food Shipment?

The most expensive problems often start before the goods are loaded. A label may use English only. The Arabic sticker may differ from the approved artwork. The invoice may show a different product description from the registration. The health certificate may be missing. Meat could arrive with a halal certificate that does not meet the required UAE recognition rules.

Shelf life matters too. Do not send stock that is already close to expiry and assume the importer can sell it quickly. The product must satisfy applicable shelf-life, safety and labelling requirements when it enters the market.

A practical approach is to run a document and label check before confirming the purchase order. For a first shipment, use the exact final retail pack during the assessment process. If you are importing tea, coffee or spices, Nexture's tea, coffee and spices business guide gives a product-specific example of how licensing, food registration and storage fit together.

How Much Does It Cost to Import Food into the UAE?

There is no single fixed import cost. Your total depends on the product, emirate, port, HS code, customs value, testing requirements, storage temperature, freight method and whether additional regulatory approvals apply.

The most predictable government charges are customs and tax. On many foreign goods, customs duty is 5% of CIF value. VAT may also apply at 5%. Product registration, label assessment, inspection, laboratory, customs broker, port, storage and transport charges need to be budgeted separately. Excise goods add another layer of compliance.

For example, if ordinary imported food has a CIF value of AED 100,000 and the applicable tariff is 5%, the customs duty would be AED 5,000 before VAT and other clearance charges. Always confirm the HS code and applicable tariff before using that figure in your landed-cost calculation.

Conclusion

To import food products into the UAE smoothly, work backwards from the border. Get the correct trading activity first. Register the food item. Approve the label. Confirm whether the product needs health, halal, veterinary or excise documentation. Then make sure the shipping documents match the registered product.

Food imports can move efficiently when these steps are handled before dispatch. Problems usually arise when a company ships first and tries to correct registration or labelling after the cargo arrives.

Frequently Asked Questions