Resources  ›  Blog  ›  Packaging & Branding  ›  Cosmetics Labelling Requirements in the UAE

Cosmetics Labelling Requirements in the UAE — What Must Appear on Your Label

Getting the cosmetics label right in the UAE is both a regulatory requirement and a commercial necessity. A label that fails to meet MOHAP requirements will prevent your product from being registered. A label that meets requirements but is poorly designed will underperform commercially. This guide covers the mandatory labelling requirements for cosmetics in the UAE — what must appear, in what format, and in which language — so you can brief your designer and regulatory consultant accurately from the start.

The Regulatory Framework

Cosmetics in the UAE are regulated primarily by MOHAP (Ministry of Health and Prevention) under the UAE Cosmetics Regulation, which is aligned with the GCC Unified Technical Regulation for Cosmetic Products (GSO 1943). This GCC-wide standard establishes the labelling requirements that apply across the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, and Oman — meaning a label compliant with the GCC standard is applicable across all GCC markets.

Mandatory Label Elements

1. Product name

The product name must appear on both the primary label (if present) and the secondary packaging. The name must be in both Arabic and English for UAE market products. The Arabic name must be a proper translation or transliteration — not an approximation.

2. Net content

The quantity of product in the package, stated as weight (grams/kilograms) or volume (millilitres/litres). For products sold by count (wipes, patches), the count must be stated. Net content must appear in both English and Arabic. The unit must be appropriate — grams for semi-solid products, millilitres for liquid, grams for powder.

3. INCI ingredient list

All ingredients must be listed by their INCI (International Nomenclature of Cosmetic Ingredients) names, in descending order of concentration. Ingredients present at 1% or less may be listed in any order after those present at above 1%. Fragrance compounds may be listed as “Parfum” or “Fragrance” rather than disclosing individual constituents, except that the 26 declared fragrance allergens (when present above threshold) must be individually declared.

The INCI list may appear in English only — Arabic INCI names are not universally required as INCI nomenclature is an international Latin-based system. Verify current MOHAP requirements on this point.

4. Manufacturer / responsible person details

The name and address of the manufacturer, importer, or the party responsible for placing the product on the UAE market must appear on the label. For products manufactured outside the UAE, the UAE importer or distributor’s name and address must appear.

5. Country of origin

“Made in [Country]” or “Country of Origin: [Country]” must appear on the label. This must reflect where the product was actually manufactured — not where the brand is based.

6. Batch code / lot number

A batch code linking the finished product to its manufacturing batch record must appear on the label. The format is not mandated but must be consistently applied and allow traceability to the production batch.

7. Expiry date / best before date / PAO

For products with a shelf life of 30 months or less, an expiry date (“best before” or “use before”) must be stated. For products with a shelf life greater than 30 months, a Period After Opening (PAO) symbol indicating how long the product remains safe after first opening should appear. Confirm current UAE requirements on this point with MOHAP — requirements may differ from EU standards in specific details.

8. Directions for use and warnings

Any specific usage instructions necessary for safe use must appear on the label. Products with specific safety warnings (e.g., “keep out of reach of children,” “for external use only,” “avoid contact with eyes,” “discontinue use if irritation occurs”) must carry those warnings in both Arabic and English.

9. Halal declaration (if claiming Halal)

If the product carries a Halal claim, the Halal certification body and certificate reference should appear on the label. An unfounded Halal claim is a regulatory and commercial risk.

Arabic Language Requirements

For UAE retail, the mandatory information listed above must generally appear in Arabic. The Arabic language version must be a genuine, accurate translation — not machine-translated text and not a rendering of English text in Arabic script without semantic translation. Product claims that appear in English must also appear in Arabic. Arabic text must be typeset correctly in right-to-left direction with appropriate Arabic typography — not simply text direction-reversed.

Labelling for MOHAP Registration

The label artwork submitted as part of the MOHAP registration dossier must exactly match the label that will be used on the marketed product. Any change to the label after registration — including adding an Arabic translation that was not in the original submission — may require a label amendment or re-registration. This is why the Arabic label must be finalised and included in the original registration submission rather than added later.

Summary

• UAE cosmetics labelling is governed by the GCC Unified Cosmetics Regulation — mandatory elements include product name, net content, INCI list, manufacturer details, country of origin, batch code, and expiry/PAO
• Arabic language is required for most mandatory label elements in UAE retail
• The label submitted for MOHAP registration must exactly match the marketed product label — finalise Arabic text before registration
• INCI list must be in descending concentration order, using correct INCI nomenclature, with fragrance allergens individually declared
• Always verify current MOHAP requirements with a qualified regulatory consultant before finalising artwork