The UAE Ministry of Climate Change and Environment (MOCCAE) announced on December 16th that the second phase of the country's plastic ban (Ministerial Decision No. 380 of 2022) will officially come into effect on January 1, 2026. This phase will prohibit the import, manufacture, and trade of single-use consumer plastic products and plastic bags.
[Image caption: Trash cans outside the Louvre Abu Dhabi are categorized for paper materials, plastic materials, and general waste.]
Second phase of the ban to be implemented on January 1, 2026.
The Ministry emphasized that the single-use items covered by this ban include beverage cups and lids, cutlery (such as spoons, forks, knives, and chopsticks), plates, straws, stirrers, and food containers made of polystyrene foam.
The ban also applies to single-use bags with a thickness of less than 50 microns. Several exemptions apply, including products manufactured for export, provided they are clearly marked for export and not circulated in the UAE domestic market. Locally produced bags and products made from recycled materials are also exempt. Other exemptions include pharmacy bags, garbage bags, very thin plastic bags used for packaging fresh food (such as meat, vegetables, and bread), and large shopping bags used for clothing, electronics, and toys.
The UAE launched the first phase of this ban on January 1, 2024, prohibiting the import, manufacture, and trade of all types of single-use plastic shopping bags (including biodegradable plastic bags).
