Three guidelines, read in full.

Primary sources

1. Dubai Municipality, Health & Safety Department, "Technical Guidelines for Cosmetics and Personal Care Products", DM-HSD-GU116-CPCP2, version 2.1, issued 15 Sep 2025 (supersedes 4 May 2024). Open-data PDF on dmpmedia.dm.gov.ae (uploads/2026/01). Used: §5.1-5.2 (scope; products out of scope), §7.1 (label components, English and/or Arabic), §8 (registration in Montaji before manufacture, import, advertising or sale), §8.1-8.2 (who applies: a company incorporated in Dubai, or with a warehouse in Dubai, holding a Dubai trade licence with cosmetics activities), §8.4 (changes must be notified or approved), §8.5 (valid 5 years), §9.1-9.6 (dossier: free sale certificate, ingredient report, GMP for local makers, laboratory report, halal, organic or vegan, clinical studies, AHA and fluoride cases), §10 (register before import), §11.2 (advertising pre-approval, including social media; free samples of registered products exempt), Annex (tests and limits). Read 2 Nov 2026.

2. Dubai Municipality, Health & Safety Department, "Technical Guidelines for Fragrance Products", DM-HSD-GU117-FP2, version 2.0, 4 May 2024 (supersedes 6 Jan 2022). Open-data PDF on dmpmedia.dm.gov.ae (uploads/2024/07). Used: §5.1 (categories: EDP, EDT, cologne, body mist, aftershave, concentrated oils, air fresheners and home fragrances, diffusers, scented candles), §6 (registration in Montaji), §6-1 (applicant licences: commercial or industrial licence from any UAE local authority with a fragrance activity, Tajer, Intelaq, E-Trader), §6-3 to 6-5 (changes, 5-year validity, advertising pre-approval), §7.1-7.5 (artwork; ingredient report with exact percentages and allergens above 0.001%; GMP only for products made in the UAE; free sale certificate for products made outside the UAE, attested by a government authority in the country of origin; tests that may be requested), §8.1 (label in English and/or Arabic; period after opening may replace the expiry date by product type), §8.2 (hotel amenities and B2B products may be registered without a barcode). Read 2 Nov 2026.

3. Dubai Municipality, Health & Safety Department (Product Control Section), "Technical Guidelines for Consumer Products E-commerce: Cross-Border Consignments Control & Import Procedures", DM-HSD-GU18-ECOM2, version 3.0, issued 16 Sep 2026 (supersedes 14 May 2024). Open-data PDF on dmpmedia.dm.gov.ae. Used: §1 (legal basis now Law No. 5 of 2025 on public health and Law No. 2 of 2026 on public safety in the Emirate of Dubai), §7 (e-commerce licence, importer code, designated free-zone warehouse, e-commerce portal), §8-1, §9-1 (registration documents for cosmetics, personal care and fragrances: all-side artwork plus one of a conformity certificate, a manufacturer composition report with concentrations, or a report from a DM-approved laboratory), §10-1 (imported products need at least 50% of shelf life left and no less than six months at entry; no registration for goods brought into a free zone and not meant for the local market), §11 (B2C through the import and re-export service, CPIP), §13 (AED 10 per product and variant; AED 50 per container release; AED 10 innovation and AED 10 knowledge fees on payments above AED 50; no fee for B2C delivery from a free zone), §15 (fines, e.g. AED 1,000 per product for importing unregistered or expired goods). Read 2 Nov 2026.

What we left out

Corrections