UAE To Ban Single-Use Plastic Products From 2026

The UAE is set to fully ban the import, production, and trade of single-use plastic products from January 1, 2026. The recent announcement was made by Dr. Amna bint Abdullah Al Dahak, the UAE's Minister of Climate Change and Environment. This move builds upon the phased approach initiated in 2024 with the ban on plastic bags.

"This decisive action underscores our resolve and commitment to environmental stewardship, driving us towards a future where waste and pollution are designed out of our systems," said the minister, as quoted by Emirates News Agency. The ban, taking effect next year, will cover single-use plastic cups and lids, single-use plastic cutlery, plastic food containers and plastic plates.

Last year, Abu Dhabi banned products including cups, lids, plates, and beverage containers made of expanded polystyrene. Other emirates in the country have also enforced similar bans on single-use plastic products. The Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi (EAD) has announced that 364 million single-use plastic bags have been saved since the ban on single-use plastic bags came into effect on 1st June 2022, as part of the emirate’s Single-Use Plastic Policy.