Arabic Product Labelling Requirements in the UAE

Article 3 of the Executive Regulation requires the supplier to show the basic particulars clearly and legibly on the package or at the place of display, as suits the product:

Article 4 adds instructions for use and installation, and a statement of what is in the box. Article 16 requires warranty and spare-parts terms in booklets written in Arabic. A copy in another language may be added.

Prepackaged food

The Gulf standard GSO 9 on labelling prepackaged foodstuffs requires product labels in Arabic, according to the GCC Standardization Organization's own guidance. Food authorities check labels against it, so ingredients, allergens, nutrition panels and dates all need correct Arabic.

Other regulated products

Cosmetics, toys, electrical appliances, tyres, detergents and many other categories have their own technical regulations and MoIAT conformity routes. Some ask for an Arabic user manual, and many ask for specific warnings. Read the regulation for your category, or ask your conformity body, before you print.

Online sales

A supplier registered in the UAE that sells online must give consumers adequate information in Arabic about the product, its specifications and the terms of contract, payment and warranty (Law Article 25). The Executive Regulation asks for ingredients and specifications in the original language plus Arabic (Article 40).

Many importers do not reprint the whole pack. They apply an Arabic sticker carrying the required particulars. This is common, but the sticker must be readable, durable and placed where it does not hide original information such as the batch number or expiry date. It must also say the same thing as the original. A sticker that drops a warning, or translates "for external use only" loosely, defeats its purpose. Check your category regulation for any specific sticker rules.

1. Start from the final artwork text, not an old draft. Send the translator the full label, insert and manual in an editable file.
2. Use a translator who knows the field. Cosmetic ingredient names, food additives and electrical ratings have settled Arabic forms; our technical manual translation team works from them.
3. Keep both languages saying the same thing. A claim that appears in English but not in Arabic, or the reverse, invites questions from inspectors and consumers.
4. Fix the numbers. Decide on Western or Arabic-Indic digits for the whole pack, and check every quantity, percentage and date against the source.
5. Typeset Arabic correctly. Arabic runs right to left and its letters join. Some design software breaks the letters apart or reverses the word order when text is pasted. Have an Arabic reader check the final PDF proof, not just the Word file.
6. Review before print. A second-linguist check costs far less than a reprint or a withdrawn batch; see translation proofreading and review.

• Machine-translated warnings. Safety text is where a literal machine translation does the most harm.
• Brand names translated by meaning. Trademarks are usually kept or transliterated as registered; see brand names lost in translation.
• Arabic smaller than everything else. The law asks for clear and legible particulars; tiny Arabic type on a large English panel is a risk.
• Website and pack out of step. The Arabic product page should match the Arabic label; see our guide to Arabic website localisation.

Not for consumer information. The Consumer Protection Law requires consumer-facing data in Arabic and allows other languages in addition. English can stay on the pack beside the Arabic.

Stickers are widely used on imported goods. They must be legible, stay attached and not cover required original information. Check whether your product category's regulation sets extra conditions.

The Executive Regulation requires the country of origin preceded by the phrase "Made in". In Arabic that is «صنع في» followed by the country name.

Instructions for use and installation are part of the information the supplier must give, and consumer information must be in Arabic. Some MoIAT product schemes ask for an Arabic manual specifically.

The Ministry of Economy and Tourism and the local economic departments enforce consumer protection. MoIAT runs the standards and conformity schemes, and food authorities check food labels.

Arabic⇄English legal translation is AED 60 per 200-word page (excl. VAT), with same-day delivery available. Short labels are often charged as a single page. Full manuals are quoted from the word count.

We translate label text, inserts, warranty booklets and user manuals into Arabic. We keep both languages consistent, check numbers and warnings line by line, and proofread the final artwork before it goes to print. For customs paperwork on the same shipment, see certificate of origin and invoice translation.

This article is general information about the translation and document side of the matter. It is not legal advice. Laws, procedures and fees change; confirm current requirements with the authority, court or regulator concerned, and take professional advice on your own case.

Send us the label text or artwork, tell us the product category, and we will return accurate Arabic ready for your designer. Smart World Legal Translation – Sole Proprietorship L.L.C. (SWLT) is a UAE Ministry of Justice-licensed legal translation company in Abu Dhabi and Dubai, led by Dr. Hani Elimam. Our federal accreditation is accepted across the UAE, including by Dubai Courts, and we hold exclusive interpretation contracts with the UAE Federal Courts and the Federal Public Prosecution. Arabic⇄English legal translation is AED 60 per 200-word page (excl. VAT), with same-day delivery available. Send your documents on WhatsApp (+971 50 864 8439), email info@swlt.ae, or use our contact page.