[Home](/)/[Resources](/resources)/UAE Product Labeling Requirements UAELabeling # UAE Product Labeling Requirements: Arabic Text, "Made in" Origin, Importer Details and ECAS Marks Products sold to UAE consumers need their label information in Arabic (English may sit alongside). The label must show a "Made in" country of origin, the producer or importer with an address, and the product name, quantity, usage and warning information required by Cabinet Resolution No. 66 of 2023. If your product is regulated by the Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology (MoIAT), which took over ESMA's role in 2020, it also needs the ECAS or EQM mark for its category. This guide lists each field, where the requirement comes from, and the mistakes that most often get shipments held. Copy Link[Share on WhatsApp](https://wa.me/?text=https%3A%2F%2Fkrono-labs.com%2Fguides%2Fuae-product-labeling-requirements) At a glance Governing law Consumer Protection Law No. 15 of 2020 Label claims Cabinet Resolution No. 66 of 2023 Standards authority MoIAT (formerly ESMA) Conformity marks ECAS / EQM for regulated products Arabic required Yes — all mandatory fields ## Key labeling requirements ### Arabic is mandatory for consumer-facing information Article 26 of Federal Law No. 15 of 2020 on Consumer Protection requires data, advertisements and contracts related to the consumer to be in Arabic; other languages may be added alongside. In practice this means the product name, key specifications, safety warnings, instructions for use and the mandatory label claims must be available in Arabic. Bilingual Arabic/English labels are the norm. Arabic can share the label with English, but it cannot be left out. ### The basic label claims: Cabinet Resolution No. 66 of 2023 The executive regulations of the Consumer Protection Law (Cabinet Resolution No. 66 of 2023, in force since 14 October 2023) list the basic claims a supplier must show clearly on the package, pack or point of display, according to the nature of the product: name, type and quantity; country of origin written as "Made in \[country\]"; country of export, if any; name of the producer or importer with a commercial address or trademark; date of production and shelf life where relevant; handling, storage and usage conditions; risks from misuse; and the categories of consumers at risk (children, the elderly, people with disabilities). Article 4 adds installation and use instructions and a statement of what is in the box. ### MoIAT technical regulations (formerly ESMA) ESMA, the Emirates Authority for Standardization and Metrology, no longer exists as a separate body. In July 2020 its functions were merged into the Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology (MoIAT), which now issues UAE technical regulations and runs the conformity schemes. Many suppliers and labs still say "ESMA certificate" when they mean a MoIAT conformity certificate. Product-specific regulations add marking rules on top of the consumer law. For example, the Gulf Technical Regulation for low voltage electrical equipment, adopted in the UAE by Cabinet Resolution in 2019, requires a type, batch or serial number and the importer's name and contact address on the product, its packaging or an accompanying document, with safety instructions in Arabic. ### Country of origin: the "Made in" line Country of origin is a listed basic claim under Cabinet Resolution No. 66 of 2023, in the format "Made in" followed by the country name. For assembled products, origin generally follows the country where the last substantial transformation took place, not where individual components came from. A vague claim such as "Made in EU" or "assembled from global components" with no country invites questions at customs and from inspectors. Keep the manufacturing records that support your origin claim, and make sure it matches the certificate of origin and the commercial invoice. ### ECAS and EQM conformity marks Products regulated by MoIAT, such as low voltage electrical equipment, energy-labelled appliances, products within the UAE RoHS regulation and toys, need certification under the Emirates Conformity Assessment Scheme (ECAS) through a MoIAT-registered notified body before sale. Certified products carry the ECAS mark with the notified body number on the product, its packaging or its documents, as the specific regulation requires. The Emirates Quality Mark (EQM) is a fuller scheme that also assesses the factory quality system. Energy-labelled appliances also need the UAE energy efficiency label. ### GSO standards: where GSO 9 actually fits The GCC Standardization Organization (GSO) issues standards and Gulf technical regulations that the UAE adopts, often as UAE.S standards. GSO 9 is often cited as the general labeling standard, but it covers prepackaged food. The 2013 edition has been replaced by GSO 9:2022 (amended in 2024), and the UAE applies its own UAE.S 9 for food. For hardware and other non-food goods, the label fields come from the consumer protection regulations plus the MoIAT or Gulf technical regulation for your product category, not from GSO 9. ### Importer or local supplier identification The consumer regulations require the name of the producer or importer with a commercial address or trademark, and the low voltage regulation requires the importer's name and contact address. In practice, retailers and inspectors expect a UAE-licensed importer or distributor to be identifiable on the product or packaging. A foreign brand without its own UAE entity therefore needs a local importer, distributor or commercial agent whose details appear on the label. ### Barcodes and retail requirements GS1 barcodes registered through GS1 UAE are a retailer and marketplace requirement, not a federal labeling law. Most hypermarkets, electronics chains and large online marketplaces will not list a product without one. Build the barcode into the same artwork review as the regulatory fields. ## UAE label checklist: field, source and notes Label field Where it comes from Notes Product name, type and quantity Cabinet Resolution 66/2023, Art. 3(1) In Arabic; English alongside is fine "Made in \[country\]" Cabinet Resolution 66/2023, Art. 3(2) Country of export too, if different Producer or importer name + address or trademark Cabinet Resolution 66/2023, Art. 3(4); LVE regulation Usually the UAE importer or distributor Model, type, batch or serial number Gulf LVE technical regulation (electrical goods) On product; packaging if too small Production date and shelf life Cabinet Resolution 66/2023, Art. 3(5) Where relevant, e.g. batteries, consumables Use, storage and misuse warnings Cabinet Resolution 66/2023, Art. 3(6)-(8); Law 15/2020, Art. 26 Must be available in Arabic Installation instructions and box contents Cabinet Resolution 66/2023, Art. 4 On pack or in the enclosed manual ECAS / EQM mark + notified body number MoIAT technical regulation for the category Regulated products only Energy efficiency label MoIAT energy efficiency regulations Covered appliances (ACs, fridges, washers, lighting, etc.) Product-specific technical regulations can add fields (for example, ratings and symbols for electrical goods, age warnings for toys). Always check the regulation for your category. ## Common UAE labeling mistakes Treating ESMA as the current authority and quoting old ESMA documents. Certificates, registrations and market surveillance now go through MoIAT. Using GSO 9 as the labeling standard for electronics. It is a food standard; your field list comes from the consumer regulations and your product's technical regulation. Machine-translated Arabic safety warnings. A wrong voltage rating or a garbled warning is a product liability problem, not just a labeling error. No UAE importer named, or a name that differs from the importer on the customs documents and the ECAS certificate. Writing origin as a region ("Made in EU") or leaving it off accessory packaging and spare parts sold separately. Stickering Arabic labels at the UAE warehouse after arrival, when the importer and retailer expected labels applied before export. ## Label compliance process 01 Identify the MoIAT technical regulation for your product category (for example, low voltage equipment, energy efficiency, RoHS, toys) and whether ECAS or EQM certification is required. If the product has a radio, check TDRA type approval as well. 02 Build a label brief that lists every mandatory field from Cabinet Resolution No. 66 of 2023, the product's technical regulation and any GSO standard it references. For each field, record the Arabic text, the English text and where it goes (product, packaging or manual). 03 Have the Arabic prepared and reviewed by a native speaker with technical knowledge. Check units, voltage and power ratings, and warning wording against the English source line by line. 04 Confirm country of origin against where the last substantial transformation happens, and make sure the "Made in" line matches the certificate of origin and the commercial invoice. 05 Name the UAE importer or distributor on the label with full legal name and address. Make sure it is the same entity as the importer of record and the ECAS certificate holder or applicant. 06 Submit final artwork as part of the ECAS or EQM technical file if your product is regulated. The notified body reviews markings as part of the assessment. Apply labels before export, not after arrival. ## Frequently asked questions ### Does the label need to be entirely in Arabic, or is bilingual acceptable? Bilingual Arabic and English is acceptable and is the normal approach. Article 26 of Federal Law No. 15 of 2020 requires consumer-facing data to be in Arabic and allows other languages in addition. All mandatory fields must therefore be present in Arabic, and the Arabic and English text should say the same thing. Some product regulations and retailers have their own expectations on layout or prominence, so check the regulation for your category. ### Is country of origin mandatory on UAE product labels? Yes. Cabinet Resolution No. 66 of 2023, the executive regulations of the Consumer Protection Law, lists country of origin as a basic claim to be written as "Made in" followed by the country name, plus the country of export where different. Customs also expects origin to be shown on the goods or proven with a certificate of origin. Use a single country, not a region, and keep evidence of where the last substantial transformation took place. ### Is ESMA still the authority for product labeling in the UAE? No. ESMA was merged into the Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology (MoIAT) in July 2020. MoIAT now issues UAE technical regulations and runs ECAS, EQM and product registration. People still say "ESMA certificate" or "ESMA approval", but today these are MoIAT conformity certificates. Consumer protection rules, including the Arabic and Made in requirements, are enforced by the Ministry of Economy and Tourism and the emirate-level economic departments. ### Can we print a single global label and add an Arabic sticker for the UAE? Often yes, provided the sticker carries all mandatory Arabic fields, is durable and does not cover other required markings. US government export guidance notes that Arabic stickers are generally accepted but should be applied before export, and some product categories need the label approved first. For products sold in volume, printing Arabic on the packaging is the lower-risk option because it draws less scrutiny from customs and inspectors. ### Do I need ECAS certification, and does it affect the label? You need ECAS if your product falls under a MoIAT technical regulation that requires it, for example low voltage electrical equipment, products subject to energy efficiency labeling, products within UAE RoHS, and toys. ECAS certification is issued by MoIAT-registered notified bodies, and the product then carries the ECAS mark with the notified body number. The notified body checks your markings as part of the assessment, so finish the label artwork before you apply. ### Does GSO 9:2013 apply to electronics labels? No. GSO 9 covers the labeling of prepackaged food, and the 2013 edition has been replaced by GSO 9:2022 (amended in 2024). In the UAE, food labeling follows UAE.S 9. For electronics and other non-food products, the label fields come from Cabinet Resolution No. 66 of 2023 and the MoIAT or Gulf technical regulation for your category, such as the Gulf low voltage regulation. ### Does the importer named on the label need to be a registered commercial agent? Not always. Federal Law No. 3 of 2022 Regulating Commercial Agencies replaced the 1981 law (Federal Law No. 18 of 1981) and took effect in June 2023. Registration is only relevant if you appoint a registered commercial agent; otherwise any properly licensed UAE importer or distributor can be named. If you do have a registered agent, the name on the label, the importer of record and the conformity certificate holder should normally match. The new law makes it easier to end or not renew an agency agreement than the old one, but take legal advice before appointing or replacing an agent. ### What is the penalty for non-compliant Arabic labeling? Under Article 30 of Federal Law No. 15 of 2020, breaching the Arabic-language requirement in Article 26 can lead to imprisonment of up to six months and/or a fine of AED 3,000 to AED 200,000, doubled for repeat offences. Cabinet Resolution No. 66 of 2023 adds administrative sanctions and fines. Separately, customs can hold shipments until labels are corrected, and MoIAT can order regulated products withdrawn from the market. **Disclaimer:** Educational resource only. Regulatory requirements change and vary by product category. Consult an accredited test laboratory or qualified compliance engineer before making certification decisions. 🇦🇪 UAE roadmap for your product Every standard, document, and test that applies — free, no account required. See your free roadmap[ Want an expert to take your product through 🇦🇪 UAE compliance for you? One consultant from Krono's compliance team takes your product from requirements to legal sale, with a fixed quote before any work starts. See compliance services](/services) Learn this properly In-depth course that teaches the full process, not just this one answer. [Start the course — $149](/courses/51-uae-moiat-ecas-conformity-consumer-electronics)[Prefer to read? Get the book — $24.99](/books/51-uae-moiat-ecas-conformity-consumer-electronics) Related guides * [UAE Product Conformity CertificateUAE MoIAT Product Conformity Certificate (PCC): regulated goods list, pre-shipment inspection by accredited bodies, relationship to ECAS and TDRA approvals, and customs clearance documentation.](/guides/uae-product-conformity-certificate) * [UAE GCM/GSO MarkThe GCC Conformity Mark (GSO mark) for electrical products across all six Gulf states: mandatory categories, GSO standards, and certification routes.](/guides/uae-gcm-gso-mark) * [Canada French Language LabelingQuebec's Charter of the French Language labeling requirements for hardware sellers: mandatory French on packaging/labels/manuals, the 2022 Bill 96 tightening, and how this differs from federal bilingual labeling rules.](/guides/canada-french-language-labeling)