Cosmetic Product Registration in UAE: 2026 Guide

Quick answer: Cosmetic product registration in UAE usually involves two layers: a federal MoIAT conformity certificate under the ECAS scheme and, for sale in Dubai, product registration with Dubai Municipality through Montaji. Products with a medical effect, such as medicated creams, are classed as healthcare products and need marketing authorisation from the Emirates Drug Establishment instead. A UAE licensed company must apply.

Key takeaways

• Ordinary cosmetics and personal care products sold in Dubai must be registered with Dubai Municipality through the Montaji service before import or sale, and registration is valid for 5 years.
• MoIAT issues a conformity certificate for cosmetics under ECAS, tested against UAE.S GSO 1943, with an official certificate fee of AED 670 plus AED 620 for document review.
• Products that claim to treat or prevent disease fall outside the cosmetic definition. Cosmetics with a medical effect are healthcare products regulated by the Emirates Drug Establishment (EDE), which has taken over medical product approvals from MOHAP.
• Only a UAE licensed company whose activity covers cosmetics can apply, so foreign brands need a local importer, distributor or their own UAE entity.
• Most delays come from expired free sale certificates, incomplete ingredient reports, label errors and medical claims on packaging or social media.

Which authority handles cosmetic product registration in UAE now?

The answer depends on what the product claims to do and where you plan to sell it. In practice there are three regulators to map before you ship a single carton.

Dubai Municipality (Montaji) for cosmetics sold in Dubai

Dubai Municipality regulates cosmetics and personal care products placed on the Dubai market. Its Technical Guidelines for Cosmetic and Personal Care Products (version 2.1) cover skin care, make-up, sunscreen, shaving and depilatory products, nail products, oral hygiene, baby products, hair and scalp products including dyes and straighteners, professional-use products, B2B products and hotel amenities. Applications go through the Consumer Product Registration Service, known as Montaji, on dm.gov.ae. Registration is valid for 5 years, and any later change to registered particulars must be notified to or approved by the Registration and Permits Section. Cosmetic advertising, including social media, also needs prior approval through Montaji.

MoIAT and ECAS for federal conformity

The Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology (MoIAT) runs the Emirates Conformity Assessment Scheme (ECAS). Its regulation card for cosmetics sets out a conformity certificate based on health and safety requirements, with testing to UAE.S GSO 1943 and labelling and safety reports under Cabinet Resolution No. 18 of 2014. Each certificate covers one brand, one country of origin and one category, with up to 25 SKUs. This federal certificate sits alongside emirate-level registration rather than replacing it.

Emirates Drug Establishment for medicated and healthcare products

The Emirates Drug Establishment is now the federal regulator for medical products. Federal Decree-Law No. 38 of 2024 on medical products widened the regulatory scope and moved marketing authorisations, import permits and advertising approvals for medical products from MOHAP to the EDE. The EDE service for a marketing authorisation for a healthcare product expressly covers cosmetics with a medical effect, dietary supplements, antiseptics and disinfectants, and herbal products. Some service pages still carry MOHAP branding during the transition, so always check which portal is live for your product.

Product type	Main authority	Route	Official fee	Validity
Standard cosmetic sold in Dubai	Dubai Municipality	Montaji product registration	Varies; confirm current fee in Montaji	5 years
Cosmetic needing federal conformity	MoIAT	ECAS conformity certificate	AED 670 certificate plus AED 620 document review	Test reports valid 3 years
Cosmetic with a medical effect	Emirates Drug Establishment	Marketing authorisation for a healthcare product	AED 100 application plus AED 5,000 registration	5 years
Unclear or borderline product	Emirates Drug Establishment	Product classification letter	AED 500	One-off letter

Who can apply for cosmetic product registration in UAE?

A foreign brand cannot register in its own name from abroad. Each authority expects a UAE licensed applicant who takes legal responsibility for the product.

Dubai Municipality applicants

Under the Dubai guidelines, the applicant must be a company incorporated in Dubai, or have a warehouse in Dubai, and hold a Dubai trade licence covering cosmetic activities. That can be a local manufacturer, the importer of foreign-made goods, or the appointed agent of a foreign manufacturer. The applicant is responsible for product safety, performance and the accuracy of everything submitted.

MoIAT and EDE applicants

MoIAT asks for a valid UAE industrial or trade licence and a distributor agreement. For EDE healthcare products, eligible applicants are medical warehouses, local pharmaceutical manufacturers and marketing offices, and the marketing authorisation holder must be registered with the EDE before any product goes in. If you do not yet have a suitable entity, our MOHAP and EDE product registration team can explain which licence fits a healthcare product portfolio.

What documents do you need?

The core dossier is similar across authorities, but each one adds its own items. Prepare these early, because foreign certificates take the longest to obtain.

Core documents for Dubai Municipality

• Free sale certificate: issued by a regulator or recognised body such as a chamber of commerce in the country of origin, valid at the time of submission. If the Dubai product name differs, you need a confirmation letter from the product owner attested by a government authority in the country of origin.
• Ingredient report: all ingredients by chemical name, with CAS numbers and quantities by weight, issued, signed and stamped by the manufacturer’s R&D department.
• GMP certificate: ISO 22716 from a certified body, required for local manufacturers.
• Laboratory test report: from a certified laboratory using accredited methods, covering the parameters in the guideline annex, such as heavy metals and microbiology.
• Supporting certificates on request: halal certificate if a halal logo appears, organic or vegan certificates, clinical studies for claims and safety assessments.

Extra items for MoIAT and EDE

MoIAT asks for a formula declaration with percentages, GMP documentation, a product safety report under Annex 3 of Cabinet Resolution No. 18 of 2014, a certificate of analysis (COA), representative artwork and an electronic declaration of conformity. The free sale certificate can be on the manufacturer’s letterhead, and legalisation is not mandatory. The EDE healthcare product route is heavier: a free sale certificate or WHO-style pharmaceutical product certificate attested by the UAE Embassy, a halal certificate, a detailed composition certificate, a summary of product characteristics, packaging and leaflet copies, a sample, a certified agency contract and a statement that the product is free of hormones, steroids, heavy metals and pig derivatives.

What are the Arabic labelling rules?

Labelling is where most first submissions stumble. The Dubai guideline asks for mandatory details in clear English and/or Arabic, while federal requirements under Cabinet Resolution No. 18 of 2014 and the GSO standard add their own rules. Legal commentary indicates that the product function, warnings and storage instructions must appear in Arabic as well as English, so most importers use bilingual labels or Arabic stickers.

What the label must show

• Brand name and product name (a trademark cannot replace the product name)
• Manufacturer or UAE agent name, address and website, and country of origin
• Full ingredients using INCI or botanical names, plus allergens above 0.001% in leave-on and 0.01% in rinse-off products
• Pack size, batch number, barcode, and non-removable production and expiry dates
• Directions for use, intended use, warnings and special storage conditions
• Symbols such as period-after-opening, and any halal, vegan or organic logos backed by certificates

Medical claims about preventing, treating or curing disease are prohibited, as are images inconsistent with local customs and values. Protecting the brand name you print is a separate step; see our trademark registration service before you finalise artwork.

How does the registration process work, step by step?

For a typical imported skincare or hair care range intended for Dubai and other emirates, the sequence looks like this.

1. Classify each product. Check claims and ingredients against the cosmetic definition. If any item makes a medical claim or has a pharmacological action, apply to the EDE for a classification letter first.
2. Set up or appoint the UAE applicant. Confirm the trade licence activity covers cosmetics and, for Dubai, that the company is incorporated or has a warehouse in Dubai.
3. Collect documents from the manufacturer. Free sale certificate, ingredient report, GMP certificate, COA, test reports and artwork.
4. Test where needed. Use an accredited laboratory for the parameters in the Dubai annex and for GSO 1943 testing for MoIAT.
5. Correct the label. Add Arabic text, INCI names, allergens and the UAE agent details, and remove disease claims.
6. Apply for the MoIAT conformity certificate through ECAS, grouping up to 25 SKUs per brand, origin and category.
7. Submit in Montaji for each product to be sold in Dubai, answer any queries and pay the fee shown in the system.
8. Clear and sell. Import only registered products, get advertising approved in Montaji, and track 5-year renewal dates.

Our Dubai Municipality product registration and MoIAT product conformity services handle steps 4 to 7 as one coordinated file.

How long does cosmetic product registration in UAE take, and what does it cost?

Timelines

The EDE publishes 45 working days for a healthcare product marketing authorisation and 10 working days for a classification letter. MoIAT cancels an ECAS application if requirements are not completed within 6 months. Dubai Municipality does not publish a fixed processing time in its guideline; industry advisers commonly report a few weeks for straightforward products and longer where lab testing or queries arise, so plan on a timeline that varies with dossier quality.

Fees

Official fees published by MoIAT are AED 670 for the certificate and AED 620 for document review. The EDE lists AED 100 for the application and AED 5,000 for registration of a healthcare product, plus AED 500 for classification. Montaji fees vary by product and service, so confirm the current fee with Dubai Municipality at the time of submission. Laboratory testing is charged separately by the laboratory.

Why do cosmetic registrations get rejected?

Most refusals in cosmetic product registration in UAE come from small, avoidable gaps.

Document problems

• Free sale or GMP certificates that expired before submission, or product names that do not match
• Ingredient reports without CAS numbers, percentages or the manufacturer’s signature and stamp
• Test reports from non-accredited laboratories, or MoIAT test reports older than 3 years

Formula and claim problems

• Results outside the Dubai limits, such as lead above 10 ppm, any detectable hydroquinone, mercury above 3 ppm or microbial counts above 1,000 CFU/g
• Claims such as anti-acne, hair regrowth or eczema relief, which push the product out of the cosmetic category
• Halal, vegan or organic logos without a supporting certificate, and labels missing allergens or mandatory warnings

Which borderline products fall outside cosmetic product registration in UAE?

The Dubai guideline lists products that are not considered cosmetics. These include products claiming to prevent, cure or alleviate diseases such as acne, eczema, psoriasis or hair loss; products with pharmacological, immunological or metabolic action such as hair regrowth or breast enlargement; products used with invasive techniques like micro-needling rollers; and items such as joint or muscle pain relief, head lice treatments, nail or eyelash glue, vaginal washes and nasal sprays.

Medicated cosmetics and health products

Where a product has a medical effect, it moves to the EDE as a healthcare product, alongside dietary supplements, antiseptics and herbal products. If you are unsure, the EDE classification service gives a binding view on the regulatory category before you invest in packaging. Other borderline items, such as nail glue, may fall under different consumer product rules, so classify first.

Products with special logos or uses

Products sold with a halal claim need certification from a recognised body, and our halal and food approvals team can help where the range also includes edible items.

How Emiracle helps

Emiracle Advisory is an authorised channel partner across 45+ UAE free zones, with a team based at Boulevard Plaza Tower 1, Downtown Dubai. To simplify cosmetic product registration in UAE, we:

• Review each SKU’s claims and formula to confirm whether it belongs with Dubai Municipality, MoIAT or the EDE
• Set up or adjust your UAE licence so the activity and location fit the registration rules
• Build a complete dossier and check certificate dates, ingredient reports and test reports before submission
• Review bilingual label artwork against Dubai and federal requirements
• Manage Montaji, ECAS and EDE submissions, queries and renewal tracking in one place

Ready to bring your range to the UAE? Speak to an Emiracle advisor or call or WhatsApp +971 52 185 3005 for a review of your product list and documents.

Frequently asked questions

Is cosmetic product registration mandatory in Dubai?

Yes. Dubai Municipality requires cosmetics and personal care products to be registered through Montaji before they are imported, sold or advertised in Dubai. Registration is valid for 5 years.

Does the Emirates Drug Establishment register ordinary cosmetics?

The EDE regulates healthcare products, which include cosmetics with a medical effect. Ordinary cosmetics without medical claims are handled through Dubai Municipality registration and MoIAT conformity. If the category is unclear, request an EDE classification letter.

Can a foreign brand register cosmetics without a UAE company?

No. The applicant must be a UAE licensed company. In Dubai, it must be incorporated in Dubai or have a Dubai warehouse and hold a trade licence covering cosmetic activities. Many brands appoint a local distributor or set up their own entity.

Do cosmetic labels in the UAE need Arabic?

The Dubai guideline accepts mandatory details in clear English and/or Arabic, but federal labelling rules expect key information such as use, warnings and storage in Arabic. Bilingual labels are the safest approach.

How much does the MoIAT cosmetics conformity certificate cost?

MoIAT lists AED 670 for the certificate and AED 620 for document review by its notified bodies. Laboratory testing to UAE.S GSO 1943 is charged separately.

What happens if my cream claims to treat acne?

Dubai Municipality treats anti-acne claims as outside the cosmetic definition. You must either remove the claim or register the product with the EDE as a healthcare product, which costs AED 100 plus AED 5,000 and takes about 45 working days.

How long is a Dubai Municipality cosmetic registration valid?

Five years. Any change to the registered details, such as formula or label, must be notified to or approved by Dubai Municipality.

Last reviewed: 20 October 2026. Rules change; confirm current requirements with an Emiracle advisor before you apply.