Arabic Labelling Rules for Food Products in the UAE
Labelling is one of the most common reasons imported products are held at the border or pulled from shelves in the UAE. Here's what international brands need to get right.
Arabic is mandatory
All mandatory label information must appear in Arabic. English can appear alongside it, and bilingual Arabic–English labels are the norm. If your packaging doesn't include Arabic, a firmly attached Arabic sticker can usually be applied before retail sale, as long as it doesn't cover the original information or dates.
UAE food labelling requirements: what a label must include
Under the UAE/GCC labelling standard (UAE.S GSO 9), labels need:
Product name
Ingredients, listed in descending order by weight
Allergen declarations (e.g. milk, eggs, nuts, gluten, soy, fish, shellfish, sulphites)
Net quantity in metric units
Manufacturer and/or importer name and address
Country of origin
Batch or lot number
Production and expiry dates
Storage instructions where needed
Nutrition information
A nutrition panel (energy, protein, carbohydrates, fat, sodium and more) is required for many product categories under GSO 2233, and whenever you make a nutrition or health claim.
Dates and shelf life
Production and expiry dates are mandatory for products with a set shelf life. Make sure dates are clear and that stickers never cover them.
Extra rules for some products
Organic, irradiated, genetically modified, special dietary and health-claim products have additional requirements. Meat products and ingredients of animal origin also need valid Halal certification.
Top labelling mistakes
Machine-translated Arabic that changes the meaning
Allergens listed in English but missing in Arabic
Stickers covering expiry dates or the original label
Claims ("sugar-free", "high protein") that aren't backed by the nutrition panel
How we help
We prepare compliant bilingual labels and stickers, check them against current standards and use them in registration files, so products clear customs and reach shelves without surprises.
Standards are updated from time to time, so confirm current editions with MOIAT before printing. Or book a free consultation and we'll review your label for you.
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