What approvals does a beverage need to be sold in the UAE?
A beverage sold in the UAE needs product registration with the food authority of the emirate — Dubai Municipality in Dubai — filed by a UAE-licensed company with food trading activity, production under a HACCP-based food safety system, and an Arabic and English label that meets GCC rules (GSO 9). Halal certification applies where ingredients require it, and sweetened drinks carry excise. Our UAE package covers registration, HACCP and label review for AED 12,000 per product. See the steps.
What is the difference between UAE registration and SFDA registration?
They are separate registrations with separate authorities. In the UAE the product is registered with the emirate's food authority by a UAE-licensed company; in Saudi Arabia the product must be registered with SFDA by a Saudi SFDA-registered importer before import. Both use GCC labelling rules, so one well-built label and product file can serve both. UAE package: AED 12,000 per product; SFDA from AED 18,000 plus government fees at cost. See the comparison table above.
What must be on an Arabic and English food label in the UAE and Saudi Arabia?
GCC labelling (GSO 9) requires, in Arabic, the product name, ingredients in descending order, allergens, net quantity, production and expiry dates, storage conditions, country of origin and the producer or importer. The nutrition panel follows GSO 2233, and health or nutrition claims must be justified. In the UAE the label is bilingual Arabic and English. We review artwork against the registration file before print — packaging design from AED 8,000 per SKU.
Do beverages need halal certification in the UAE or Saudi Arabia?
It depends on the ingredients. A halal certificate from a recognised body is required for products containing animal-derived ingredients, and many UAE retailers expect halal certification for all food and drink. Flavour carriers, colours and processing aids are where hidden issues usually sit. We check halal status of every ingredient during the formula screen, so the certificate question is answered before you commit to a recipe or a label.
How is the sugar tax on drinks calculated in the UAE?
Since 1 January 2026 the UAE taxes sweetened drinks at a tiered per-litre rate based on sugar content per 100 ml, replacing the old flat 50% rate; energy drinks remain at 100%. Saudi Arabia moved to a similar sugar-tiered model on the same date. Sugar content therefore affects your shelf price directly. During product development we model the excise tier against your target price, and the importer registers for excise with the Federal Tax Authority.
Do you guarantee that my product will be approved?
No — and no one can honestly guarantee it: the authority makes the decision. What we do is manage the process end to end and screen the formula, label and claims against current rules before filing, so the usual rejection reasons are checked before filing. We handle the authority's questions within the agreed scope.
Can you review a label I already have?
Yes. Label review is part of our UAE registration package, and we also check existing artwork for brands that registered elsewhere or are adding Saudi Arabia. We compare the Arabic and English text, nutrition panel, allergens and claims with GSO rules and with your registration file, then mark what must change before the next print run. Send the label through the brief form — no formulas, please.
Do I need a UAE company before I can register a beverage?
Yes, someone with a UAE trade licence covering food trading must own the registration and the import. That can be your own UAE company — 100% foreign ownership is possible for most trading activities — or a partner acting as importer of record. We help you choose which route fits your plan on the strategy call, and build the registration around it.
Can a beverage made in the UAE be sold in Saudi Arabia?
Yes, once it is registered with SFDA by a Saudi SFDA-registered importer and labelled to Saudi requirements. Building the UAE label and file to GCC rules from the start makes the Saudi registration a parallel track rather than a redesign. Our SFDA registration starts from AED 18,000 per product, government fees at cost; export planning covers the rest of the route.
