UAE-wide ban on plastic bags from next year

PLASTIC CUPS, LIDS, CUTLERY, PLATES, BOXES TO BE PROHIBITED FROM 2026

The UAE will impose a complete nationwide ban on single-use plastic shopping bags starting next year, the Emirates News Agency (WAM) reported yesterday.

Effective January 1, 2024, the UAE will limit the use of plastic bags and regulate the production, distribution, and use of single-use products, including biodegradable plastic bags, at the federal level. Additionally, the use of single-use plastic bags of any material will also be prohibited as of this date.

Other banned items

Starting January 1, 2026, the UAE will also impose a ban on the import, production, and trade of single-use plastic products. These include plastic cups, lids, cutlery (forks, knives and spoons), plates, food containers and boxes made of styrofoam.

This comes as part of Ministerial Resolution No. 380 of 2022, which regulates the use of single-use products in the country’s markets. The decision aims to protect the environment from pollution caused by the consumption of such products.

Exemptions

The resolution excludes certain products from the ban, including rolls of thin bags used according to what is specified in the guide issued by the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment in coordination with the concerned authorities.

Exemptions also extend to single-use bags and products made from recycled materials within the country.

The resolution urged relevant authorities, consumers, and stakeholders to implement mechanisms to decrease the production and use of singleuse products, such as partially or fully plastic packages and packaging materials, including those used in food packaging, plastic bottles, cotton swabs, cracker bags, wet wipes, balloons, and balloon sticks.

The decision also emphasized the need to promote and support initiatives that increase the use of multi-use products and to ensure that sustainable, multi-use alternatives are readily available at retail outlets.