The United Arab Emirates is intensifying its war on plastic pollution with the implementation of Phase Two of its comprehensive plastic ban, scheduled to commence on January 1, 2026. The Ministry of Climate Change and Environment (MOCCAE) formally announced this significant environmental policy expansion on December 16, 2025.
This forthcoming phase substantially widens the scope of prohibited items, targeting an extensive array of single-use consumer products that contribute significantly to environmental degradation. The ban will comprehensively restrict the import, manufacturing, and commercial trade of beverage cups and their lids; all forms of cutlery including spoons, forks, knives, and chopsticks; disposable plates; drinking straws; beverage stirrers; and food containers manufactured from Styrofoam materials.
Concurrently, the legislation imposes stringent regulations on single-use bags, applying to all constituent materials including paper, with a specific thickness threshold of 50 microns. Bags falling below this micron measurement will be prohibited from circulation within the UAE market.
The policy framework incorporates strategically designed exemptions to balance environmental objectives with practical economic considerations. Products manufactured explicitly for export markets are permitted, provided they are clearly labeled for international distribution and remain outside domestic circulation. In a move to bolster local sustainability initiatives, items produced from recycled materials within the UAE receive exemption status, effectively supporting and stimulating the national recycling industry.
Additional exemptions maintain practicality for essential services, including medicine bags, refuse collection bags, very thin plastic wrapping necessary for fresh food preservation (meat, vegetables, bread), and substantial shopping bags designed for clothing, electronics, and toy retailers.
MOCCAE has issued a formal appeal to all commercial establishments, retail markets, and supply chain stakeholders to ensure full compliance with the new regulations. The ministry emphasizes the critical role of private sector cooperation in achieving the nation’s ambitious environmental protection goals and advancing sustainable development objectives.
This second phase builds upon the foundational measures implemented on January 1, 2024, when Phase One initially prohibited the import, manufacture, and trade of all single-use plastic shopping bags, including those marketed as biodegradable. The sequential implementation demonstrates the UAE’s methodical approach to environmental policy transformation.