The Ministry of Climate Change and Environment (MOCCAE) has announced the second phase of Ministerial Decision No. 380 of 2022, expanding the ban on single-use plastic products and bags, effective January 1, 2026. The move aligns with the UAE’s broader environmental strategy to protect ecosystems, reduce waste, and promote sustainability while enhancing quality of life.
The new phase prohibits a wider range of items, including beverage cups and lids, plates, cutlery, straws, stirrers, and Styrofoam food containers. It also introduces a comprehensive ban on all single-use bags—regardless of material, including paper—if their thickness is less than 50 microns.
Eng. Alya Abdelrahim Alharmoodi, Assistant Under-Secretary for the Sustainable Communities Sector at MOCCAE, said the decision marks a major step towards a more sustainable future, while noting that exemptions have been included to support trade and industry. Products manufactured solely for export, recycled-material products made locally, medicine and waste bags, thin food-wrapping plastics, and large shopping bags for items such as clothing and electronics are exempt.
MOCCAE urged businesses to comply fully. The first phase, launched on January 1, 2024, banned all single-use plastic shopping bags, including biodegradable ones, supporting the transition to reusable alternatives.
