How to Complete Product Registration with Dubai Municipality: A Simple Guide

May 4, 2024

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The Municipality of Dubai regulates standards for products imported and sold to consumers in the local market. It has the power to withdraw certain products from sale if found toxic, dangerous for consumers, or offensive. Hence, to ensure such standards, companies must consider product registration in Dubai and verify the safety and security of their products.

This blog will discuss everything about product registration in Dubai Municipality, including its importance, benefits, and procedure.

What is Product registration in Dubai?

The product registration is a process implemented by the Dubai government to streamline the import, manufacturing, and promotion of all products. All the importers and local manufacturers operating in the Emirate are obligated to register their products with the respective Municipality.

Product registration in Dubai ensures that the label conveys all the necessary information about the product to the consumers and it complies with consumer safety standards.

Importance of product registration in Dubai:-

Controls the products entering the UAE market
Restricts the trade of counterfeit or harmful products
Random testing and quality inspections on products ensure consumer safety

Benefits of Product Registration in Dubai

There are many benefits of product registration in Dubai Municipality for manufacturers, wholesale customers, and consumers:

Trust – Product registration in Dubai certifies that the products meet the highest health and safety standards, and thus can be helpful in gaining consumer trust.
Compliance – Product registration verifies that the company is compliant with all rules and regulations about substances and materials used in products.
No moral offense – Dubai Municipality restricts the import or manufacture of certain culturally or religiously offensive products.
Avoid legal problems – Selling unregistered products is illegal in Dubai. This will prevent the manufacturer from being persecuted.
Brand reputation – A company adhering to all health and safety regulations will be positively perceived by the customers.

Who must apply for product registration in Dubai?

Local manufacturers

Companies or local manufacturers that are involved in manufacturing food, cosmetics, or any other products within the UAE are required to register their products in Dubai. The company representative must approach the Consumer Products Safety Section and ensure that their products have proper certifications before they enter the UAE market.

Product importers

Foreign companies manufacturing products for import into the Dubai market are required to register with Dubai Municipality. The company representative must make sure that the products are properly registered before the consignment reaches Dubai.

What is the process of product registration in Dubai Municipality?

The process of product registration in Dubai Municipality is the same as with other municipalities across the Emirates. Additionally, businesses are required to register their products in the same Emirates from where they got their trade license issued. Once the product registration is complete, businesses can distribute their products across the UAE.

One crucial thing to note is that the same product or brand must be registered multiple times if they are available in different sizes, packaging, quality & quantity. The product registration process includes the following steps:-

Get a valid license

Dubai municipality mandates product registration for all the companies operating in the Emirate, be it in Mainland or Free zones. However, the possession of a valid trade license is a prerequisite for businesses to get their product registered with the municipality.

Register with the Municipality

Once companies are ensured of their license, they must submit a Products Registration Service Application to the Dubai Municipality to get started with the procedure. They also need to pay a registration fee amount. The company representative will fill out the form for each product that needs to be registered and submit a copy of their valid label assessment.

Complete the registration

Once you are done submitting your application along with the relevant documents, the Municipality will review and validate the submitted documents. If they are convinced of the business’s compliance with the regulations, they will register the product and generate an electronic registration certificate. The validity of this certificate is 5 years.

In case of any objections, the applicant must provide supporting documents as requested by the authorities.

Products eligible for registration in Dubai

Food and eatables

To register food products with the Dubai Municipality, companies must undergo certain mandatory steps such as barcode registration, label assessment, and laboratory tests. If any product is available in different sizes, packaging, quality & quantity, it must be registered multiple times.

Cosmetics

According to Dubai Municipality, substances that are intended to be applied over external human body parts are categorized under cosmetic products. Therefore, these substances must be clean, and maintain the body in good hygiene. Some of these cosmetics are body creams, lotions, gels, perfumes, toiletries, conditioners, eye lenses, and more.

Cosmetic product registration in Dubai ensures that the product is free from any harmful substance and safe for consumer use. It helps customers identify the ingredients and origin of the products. In case of any side effect, customers have the right to file a case against the manufacturer at the customer protection department.

Pharmaceutical products

Registration of Pharmaceutical products with the Dubai Municipality helps the customers learn about the origin and ingredients of the product. The stringent regulations of the Dubai authorities ensure that the population is not harmed by any unregulated products sold in the market. However, if any harmful ingredient is detected on the label of the registered product, the consumer can file a complaint against the pharmaceutical manufacturer or importer.

Product banned in Dubai, UAE

Narcotic Drugs
Betel Leaves
Goods made in Israel
E-Cigarettes
Gambling-related products

Products with restrictive status

Alcoholic Beverages
Rough Diamonds
Media-related products
Products related to Nuclear Energy

What are the post-registration obligations for the companies?

Renewal and amendments – In order to maintain the registration status and ensure that the products comply with evolving standards and regulations, companies must get their Product Registration Certificates renewed by the Municipality. Similarly, any modifications to the composition or production of the product must also be reported to the authorities.

Monitoring and compliance – Products like food and cosmetics are strictly checked by the Dubai Municipality to make sure they are devoid of harmful substances. Therefore, companies must adhere to specific schemes like ECAS and FIRS while manufacturing and registering cosmetics and food products respectively.

Similarly, pharmaceuticals and medical products must be certified by the Ministry of Health. Continuous monitoring of products will ensure adherence to the necessary criteria.

Product liability and recalls – The Consumer Protection Department and the Supreme Committee for Consumer Protection address consumer complaints and enforce consumer protection laws in Dubai. As per the law, a consumer acquires a commodity or service for personal use and hence, must demonstrate the supplier or manufacturer’s negligence to a defect causing harm.

In case of any breach or defect, the Consumer Protection Department has the right to implement remedies and penalties on the manufacturers and suppliers, and even appeal to the Ministry of Economy.

Avail product registration services with Shuraa Business Setup

Shuraa Business Setup is one of the leading corporate service providers in the UAE. Apart from business registration and licensing, Shuraa also assists businesses in getting their products registered with Dubai Municipality & other municipality bodies in the UAE. They hold years of experience in the business setup industry, hence making sure companies comply with all the stipulated requirements and regulations of the UAE authorities.

From checking the label for compliance to ensuring the proper conduct of the laboratory test of the ingredients, Shuraa handles each and every step of product registration in Dubai. Moreover, their full-fledged and continuous support helps businesses grow and prosper in regional as well as international markets.