Cosmetics Registration in the UAE (2026): What Counts as a Cosmetic, Lab Tests, Claims and Advertising Rules for Sellers

Cosmetics in Dubai must be registered with Dubai Municipality (DM) before they are manufactured, imported, exported, advertised, sold or distributed, and the registration is valid for 5 years. That is the rule in DM's cosmetics and personal care guideline, version 2.1, issued 15 September 2025. This page covers the product side: what counts as a cosmetic, which tests and claims DM looks at, and the advertising rules. The filing steps and applicant rules are in Montaji registration, and the language question is in Arabic label requirements.

What counts as a cosmetic under the DM rules?

DM defines a cosmetic as any substance or preparation placed in contact with external body parts (epidermis, hair, nails, lips, external genital organs), or the teeth and mucous membranes of the mouth, mainly to clean, perfume, change the appearance of, correct odour of, protect or keep them in good condition.

DM's in-scope examples are wide: body and face creams, serums, hand and foot care, lip products, make-up, sunscreen and suntan products, shaving and hair removal products, nail products, oral hygiene products, baby products, hair and scalp products, hair dyes and keratin straighteners. Professional-use, business-to-business and hotel amenity products are in scope too. Professional-use products must carry the sentence "For Professional use only" on the label.

Which products are outside cosmetics?

DM lists categories it treats as out of scope, so a seller who markets them as cosmetics is in the wrong route:

• Products meant to prevent, cure, diagnose or alleviate a disease or its symptoms. DM's examples include acne, eczema, psoriasis, dermatitis, rosacea, varicose vein and hair loss or alopecia products.
• Products with substances that restore, correct or modify physiological functions through a pharmacological, immunological or metabolic action, such as hair and eyelash re-growth products, products to treat dry mouth, breast augmentation products and products for microcirculation or lymphatic drainage.
• Products used with invasive techniques such as meso-rollers, derma rollers and dermapens.
• Products delivered with a device to induce deeper penetration, such as iontophoresis.

We could not verify from a primary source which authority takes these products instead. Ask DM, and for ingestible items see supplement registration in the UAE.

The label is the trap. A moisturiser described as treating acne is no longer a cosmetic in DM's terms, so the claim can move the product out of the route you registered for.

What does the cosmetics dossier include beyond the basics?

The core documents (Free Sale Certificate, ingredient report) are listed in the Montaji guide. The guideline adds items that matter for cosmetics specifically:

The ingredient report must be signed and stamped by the manufacturer's R&D department in the country of origin. A generic supplier PDF without the R&D signature and stamp does not meet that requirement.

What tests and limits does DM apply?

DM's annex says products should be tested at Dubai Central Laboratory or another accredited laboratory. The general safety table lists limits for impurities, which are not added ingredients:

For baby products, oral care and eye care the annex notes limits up to 1 ppm. The annex goes on to other tests by product type, which we do not reproduce. Ask your lab to work from the current annex rather than from our table.

Two special cases in the guideline:

• Fluoride toothpaste. If the label lists a fluoride compound, you must provide total fluoride content, tested at Dubai Central Lab or an accredited laboratory.
• Alpha-hydroxy acid peels. The final retail product must have a pH of 3.5 or greater, and 3 or greater for professional use only, and the label must carry the listed precautions.

What must the label show, and what is banned?

The label must show brand, product name, manufacturer or UAE agent details, country of origin, ingredients, pack size, production and expiry dates, storage conditions, instructions for use, intended use, a general warning, a barcode and a batch number, in clear English and/or Arabic. Medical claims and illustrations at odds with prevailing social customs are banned, and misleading labelling counts as misbranding. Barcode setup is in GS1 barcodes in the UAE.

Can you advertise cosmetics before approval?

No. DM says any related advertisement or promotional activity needs pre-approval through Montaji, and gives brochures, newspapers and magazines, promotional campaigns, social media, TV, and outdoor and indoor advertisements as examples. Product sales subject to conditions, gifts, prizes, discount coupons and free distribution of samples of registered products do not need DM approval.

For a marketplace seller, product pages and sponsored ads are advertising. Do not run ads for a cosmetic until registration is done, and keep ad copy inside the claims you registered. Meydan Free Zone's e-commerce guide also notes that cosmetics and health-related goods often need Dubai Municipality and MoIAT registration before you list. The MoIAT side is in the ECAS guide, and we could not confirm from a primary source which cosmetic lines it covers.

Does a Halal logo or consumer law change anything?

Two outside rules touch cosmetics sellers. First, halal: DM makes the halal certificate mandatory for a cosmetic registration only when the label carries a Halal logo. MoIAT states the Halal National Mark itself is optional, while Cabinet Decree No. 10 of 2014 requires an establishment to obtain a halal certificate for final products and raw materials from registered certification bodies. The decree's reach over cosmetics is not spelled out on the page we read, so ask before you assume either way. See halal certificates for UAE sellers.

Second, consumer law. The UAE government's consumer protection page says e-commerce businesses must give consumers and UAE authorities information in Arabic about the product or service, and that suppliers who do not provide clear information and labelling face imprisonment of up to two years and a fine not exceeding AED 2 million. That sits on top of DM's rules, not instead of them.

What happens if you sell unregistered cosmetics?

DM's inspection programme covers product registration status, physical conformity and sampling for laboratory testing, and DM can order a recall or withdrawal by batch or barcode. Contraventions are charged under Local Order No. 11 of 2003. The guideline gives no fine amounts, so we do not state any. Registered or not, selling a product that harms consumers is a bigger problem than a fine.

FAQ

Do I need to register every cosmetic product in Dubai? Yes. DM says no cosmetic may be manufactured, imported, exported, advertised, sold or distributed in Dubai unless registered. Registration is per product, valid 5 years, and changes to the registered particulars must be notified to DM.

Is an acne cream a cosmetic? DM's out-of-scope list includes products meant to prevent, cure, diagnose or alleviate a disease or its symptoms, and names acne products. A product with disease claims leaves the cosmetics route. Ask DM how it classifies your exact product.

Which lab tests does DM require? A report from a certified lab with accredited test methods, against Annex 1 of the guideline, which includes toxic metal limits such as lead 10 ppm and cadmium, arsenic and mercury 3 ppm. DM also names Dubai Central Laboratory as an option.

Do I need GMP certification? DM's guideline asks for ISO 22716 GMP evidence from local manufacturers. We did not find the same line for foreign manufacturers in the section we read, so confirm what your overseas factory should supply.

Can I advertise on Instagram before registration? No. DM says social media advertising of cosmetics needs pre-approval through Montaji. Gifts, coupons and free samples of registered products are listed as not needing approval.

What is the penalty for unregistered cosmetics? Violations are charged under Local Order No. 11 of 2003. The guideline does not state amounts, so ask DM for the current penalty schedule.

What to do next

Classify the product first, then the claims, then book the lab. Registration, filed as in Montaji registration, follows. When your cosmetics are registered and ready to list, Blooprint manages Amazon.ae and noon accounts and advertising through its Amazon.ae account management. General information only; confirm requirements with Dubai Municipality.