Shoppers in Abu Dhabi will soon see fewer chocolates, crisps, sugary drinks and other unhealthy snacks at supermarket entrances, checkout counters and other high-visibility locations under a new policy aimed at encouraging healthier eating habits.  

From January 1, 2027, supermarkets larger than 4,000 square feet and online grocery platforms will no longer be allowed to prominently display food and drinks classified as high in fat, salt and sugar (HFSS) under the Abu Dhabi Public Health Centre’s SEHHI nutrition classification system.

The initiative, led by Healthy Living in collaboration with the Abu Dhabi Registration Authority (ADRA) and supported by several government entities, is designed to make healthier choices easier without restricting what people can buy.

Under the new rules, HFSS products cannot be displayed at store entrances, end-of-aisle promotions or checkout areas. Online retailers must also remove these products from homepage promotions, search recommendations, pop-up advertisements and checkout pages.

Authorities stressed that the products are not being banned. They will remain available in their usual aisles, allowing shoppers to purchase them while reducing impulse buying driven by prominent placement.

Officials said the policy is based on behavioural science and international best practices to create shopping environments that naturally encourage healthier decisions.

Retailers across Abu Dhabi are preparing for the changes ahead of the mandatory deadline, with some stores already implementing the new placement standards across their stores in the emirate.

The initiative forms part of Abu Dhabi’s wider preventive health strategy, which focuses on reducing lifestyle-related diseases by embedding healthier choices into everyday life.

Very recently, the Abu Dhabi Agriculture and Food Safety Authority (ADAFSA) ordered the temporary administrative closure of Noble Catering Services in the Al Dhafra Region after identifying repeated food safety violations. The authority said it posed a risk to public health. The establishment was found to be in breach of laws concerning food, as well as related food safety regulations.

The closure is the latest in a growing series of enforcement actions taken against restaurants, catering companies and other food establishments across the UAE. In recent months, authorities have increasingly announced temporary closures, administrative fines and other penalties against businesses found to have committed serious or repeated food safety violations.

While such actions may give the impression that regulators are responding to a surge in unsafe food practices, the trend reflects something broader: A shift towards more transparent, risk-based inspections and stricter controls on a rapidly expanding hospitality sector. 

Rather than signalling a widespread decline in food safety standards, officials say the public disclosure of enforcement actions is intended to protect residents, encourage compliance and strengthen confidence in the country’s food regulatory system.

The recent closures are not evidence of a sudden deterioration in food safety. Rather, they reflect a shift in how regulators enforce compliance and communicate risks to the public.

Naming and shaming

For years, restaurant inspections largely took place behind the scenes, with operators typically given opportunities to rectify shortcomings before facing stronger penalties. Today, however, authorities are increasingly making decisions public, naming businesses that fail to address repeated violations or are found to pose an immediate risk to public health. The change marks a new phase in the UAE’s food safety strategy, one where public accountability is becoming as important as regulatory compliance.

For example, in Abu Dhabi, ADAFSA took action against Amina Restaurant, citing serious food safety violations that threatened public health and repeated non-compliance despite previous warnings. Similarly, Index Restaurant in Mussafah Industrial Area was ordered to close after inspectors found repeated breaches of food safety regulations and determined that the establishment had failed to implement the corrective measures required following earlier inspections.

Beyond these individual cases, authorities have temporarily closed several cafeterias, cafés, butcheries and snack shops across Abu Dhabi and Al Ain. 

The violations commonly cited include poor hygiene standards, unsafe food handling practices, improper storage of food at required temperatures and repeated failures to comply with food safety regulations despite receiving notices from inspectors.

A pattern, not isolated cases

Enforcement actions have recently affected a variety of businesses, from neighbourhood cafeterias and shawarma outlets to full-service restaurants and butcheries.

Authorities have cited establishments for violations including:

• Poor kitchen hygiene
• Pest infestations
• Improper food storage temperatures
• Cross-contamination between raw and cooked foods
• Expired or spoiled ingredients
• Failure to maintain cleaning records
• Employees not following food safety protocols
• Ignoring previous inspection notices

In many cases, authorities specifically stated that closures followed repeated violations and the failure to implement corrective measures after multiple inspections, rather than a single offence.

Is this a widespread crackdown?

In Abu Dhabi, yes. ADAFSA reported that:

• 69 food establishments were closed over 18 months.
• 55 closures occurred during 2025.
• 14 additional closures occurred during the first part of 2026.
• The authority also received more than 7,000 consumer complaints over that period, which helps guide inspections.

Closure is usually the last step

Food businesses generally move through several stages before being ordered to close.

The process typically includes:

1. Routine inspection
2. Identification of violations
3. Warning or improvement notice
4. Follow-up inspection
5. Administrative fine
6. Temporary closure if violations continue or public health is at immediate risk

Only where inspectors believe there is a direct threat to consumers can authorities immediately suspend operations.

Officials consistently emphasise that closures are designed to remove health risks—not to punish businesses.

Why now?

Several developments have converged.

1. Greater transparency

Perhaps the biggest change is that authorities are increasingly making enforcement public.

Instead of quietly issuing closure orders, agencies now publish the names of restaurants, photographs of premises and the reasons for action.

This serves several purposes:

• Informing consumers
• Encouraging industry-wide compliance
• Deterring repeat offenders
• Demonstrating regulatory accountability

The message is clear: food safety is becoming a matter of public record.

2. Post-pandemic food safety expectations

Covid-19 permanently changed expectations around hygiene.

Consumers today pay much closer attention to:

• Cleanliness
• Food handling
• Kitchen practices
• Employee hygiene

Governments have responded by strengthening inspection regimes and increasing monitoring of food establishments.

While today’s closures are not directly linked to COVID-19, the pandemic accelerated the emphasis on public health oversight.

3. Growing hospitality sector

The UAE’s restaurant market has expanded rapidly.

Every year, hundreds of new:

• Restaurants
• Cafes
• Cloud kitchens
• Bakeries
• Catering companies

enter the market.

More businesses inevitably mean:

• More inspections
• More complaints
• Greater variation in compliance standards

Regulators have therefore adopted more risk-based inspection systems.

4. Risk-based enforcement

Modern inspection programmes no longer inspect every business equally. Authorities instead prioritise establishments based on factors such as:

• Previous inspection history
• Number of customer complaints
• Type of food served
• Volume of customers
• Potential public health risk

Businesses with strong compliance records may be inspected less frequently, while repeat offenders receive closer scrutiny.

This allows inspectors to focus resources where risks are greatest.

Safety for diners

Public disclosure enables consumers to make informed choices while reassuring them that authorities are actively monitoring food businesses.

Importantly, officials stress that the overwhelming majority of licensed restaurants comply with food safety regulations. The establishments that are publicly named represent a relatively small proportion of the UAE’s extensive hospitality industry.

Authorities receive thousands of complaints every year from residents.

Common complaints include:

• Food poisoning
• Unclean premises
• Foreign objects in food
• Spoiled food
• Poor employee hygiene

Complaint data increasingly influences inspection priorities.

If multiple customers report similar issues about one establishment, inspectors may conduct unannounced visits.

Abu Dhabi leads public enforcement trend

Abu Dhabi has become the most visible example of this new approach.

The Abu Dhabi Agriculture and Food Safety Authority (ADAFSA) regularly publishes administrative closure decisions, explaining that the affected establishments posed risks to public health and had failed to correct violations despite repeated notices.

The authority has also introduced the Zadna Rating system, which provides consumers with a visible indication of a restaurant’s food safety performance, encouraging operators to compete on hygiene as well as food quality.

The Dubai approach

Dubai Municipality has long operated one of the region’s most sophisticated food inspection systems.

Rather than frequently announcing closures, Dubai has traditionally focused on:

• Regular inspections
• Food safety ratings
• Improvement notices
• Administrative penalties

Only significant violations or repeated failures generally become public.

The overall objective remains the same: prevention rather than punishment.

The recent closures should not be viewed simply as a crackdown on restaurants.

They represent the evolution of food regulation in a country positioning itself as a global tourism and hospitality destination. As the UAE attracts more international visitors, hosts major global events and expands its culinary sector, maintaining high food safety standards becomes both a public health necessity and an economic priority.

The UAE’s Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MoHRE) has clarified six situations in which employees may not receive compensation for workplace injuries or occupational diseases.

The rules are part of the country’s occupational health and safety framework, which aims to reduce workplace accidents while ensuring employers and employees follow safety standards.

When compensation can be denied

According to MoHRE, employees may lose their right to compensation if they:

• Intentionally injure themselves.
• Are under the influence of alcohol, drugs, or other intoxicating substances at the time of the incident.
• Deliberately ignore clearly displayed workplace safety instructions.
• Cause the injury through intentional misconduct.
• Refuse, without a valid reason, to undergo a medical examination or follow prescribed treatment.
• Are found by authorities to have intentionally violated workplace safety regulations.

Employer responsibilities

Under UAE labour laws, employers must provide a safe workplace by:

• Supplying personal protective equipment (PPE) free of charge.
• Training employees on workplace safety.
• Conducting health checks where required.
• Keeping records of workplace injuries and occupational diseases.
• Reporting workplace accidents to the relevant medical and police authorities.

Employers are also required to investigate workplace incidents and maintain health records for employees exposed to occupational risks.

Compensation rules

Employers must cover medical treatment costs for work-related injuries and occupational diseases.

Compensation is calculated based on the employee’s latest basic salary and should be paid within 10 days of the medical report determining the level of disability.

If a workplace injury results in permanent disability or death, compensation is paid according to UAE labour regulations, with the final assessment made by a specialised medical committee.

Importantly, employers cannot terminate an injured employee’s contract until all legal entitlements have been settled.

What counts as a work injury?

A work injury includes accidents that happen while performing job duties, as well as certain accidents during direct travel to or from work. Occupational diseases linked to an employee’s job are also covered under UAE law.

Focus on prevention

MoHRE says the regulations are designed to balance employee protection with personal responsibility. While workers are protected when injuries occur during the course of employment, they are also expected to follow workplace safety rules.

The ministry continues to inspect private-sector companies to ensure compliance, helping create safer and healthier workplaces across the UAE.