Second phase of plastic ban to begin on Jan.1 in UAE

The Ministry of Climate Change and Environment has affirmed that on Thursday, Jan.1, 2026, will witness the activation of the second phase of implementing the ministerial resolution no. 380 for 2022, which stipulates that a new group of consumer plastic products and single-use bags be prohibited from being imported, produced or traded.

The resolution represents an important milestone in the country’s journey to build a sustainable future, the ministry said, adding that it comes as a complement to the system of legislation that aims to protect natural systems and reduce the environmental impact of waste.

The activation of the second phase on January 1, 2026, is not just an organisational measure to reduce waste, but is part of a comprehensive vision to manage waste effectively and consolidate the principles of circular economy, by transforming resources into sustainable assets instead of being an environmental burden, it said.

“We are shifting from the stage of banning bags, which began in 2024 and stipulated a ban on the import, production or trade of single-use plastic shopping bags including biodegradable plastic bags. This step represented a key pillar in the country’s efforts to reduce excessive consumption of single-use plastics and paved the way for society and markets to adopt a culture of using sustainable and multi-use alternatives,” the ministry said.

“With the second phase, we are moving to a wider scope, where other consumer products like consumer plastic products and single-use bags are banned from being imported and traded, regardless of the materials they are made of.”

“Through both phases, we are adopting a balanced approach that reflects an interest in waste management and takes into account the preservation of our marine and terrestrial environment. At the same time, we are supporting the sustainability and growth of businesses, as our message is clear and signifies that protecting the environment is a shared responsibility and that every step we take to reduce this consumption is a real investment in the health of our society and the beauty of our nature,” the ministry added.

A strict monitoring system would be in place to ensure compliance as the resolution is implemented and supervised through an integrated co-ordination mechanism at the federal and local levels, the ministry said.

As part of this system, the resolution is carried out in close co-operation and co-ordination with its strategic partners in the country with a view to ensuring a unified and effective application of the ban, it added.

Based on this coordination, the local authorities in each emirate, represented by the municipalities, economic departments and competent regulatory bodies, assume responsibility for field application and direct supervision of the markets to ensure that all establishments and suppliers comply with the provisions of the resolution, it said. The ministry added that it called on all establishments, markets and suppliers to fully comply through continuous field monitoring to verify that the markets are free of prohibited products and impose penalties on offenders.

The ministry indicated that the most prominent banned products include disposable paper cups and their lids, tableware including forks, spoons, knives, chopsticks, straws and stir sticks, food containers made of Styrofoam.

The ban also includes all single-use bags (less than 50 microns thick), whether plastic or paper, unless they contain recycled materials, it said.